It isn't fun, but it's essential.

Rating: 8/10 (17 March 2020)

'Son Of Saul (2015)' is powerful, the perfect example of an 'arty' technique complimenting narrative. The movie is shot entirely from the eponymous prisoner's perspective - on his face, over his shoulder or, sometimes, through his eyes - and anything he isn't paying direct attention to is out of focus. That's fitting for a few reasons, the most major being that, once the plot gets under way, Saul is of singular vision, intent on completing the mission he has assigned himself no matter the cost. The technique also makes things incredibly claustrophobic, aptly portraying the sheer mind-boggling madness of the horrific situations it depicts. It's set inside a Nazi concentration camp and, although they're portrayed discreetly, the atrocities it depicts really are upsetting. It feels like vital cinema, a story with a purpose (even if that purpose isn't always clear). It's also just staggeringly accomplished, with loads of long takes chock full of background extras and complex yet believable choreography. This never gets in the way of the story - in fact, you may not even notice it - because everything just feels so grounded, so emergent, so real. It isn't a fun experience, but it's an essential one. 8/10