I'd already decided this film was a masterpiece by the half way point. There have been many films that cover the horrors of Europe during WW2. But very few have done it as well as this. It does surely contain some of the most harrowing scenes in cinema, but it's also utterly astonishing in terms of the quality of film-making, the casting, the consistency of shot composition etc. It's just stunning. There are indelible images left on my brain whether I want them there or not. Anybody who appreciates films like Come and See, The White Ribbon and Ivan's Childhood might want to give this a go. There's a huge nod to Come and See regarding one of the cast members. And the performance by the young lad is brilliant. There's even a little nod to the cinema of Mikhail Kalatozov. Films like these don't come around very often. 9.7 out of 10 Absolutely astonishing

A story about the cruelty of the human being. Set in WWII, the Nazis are not the only ones who torture, mistreat, or abuse. A brutal coming-of-age. Dickens meets Tarkovski. The violence is constant, but it's not explicit. However, it causes discomfort. The gorgeous B/W cinematography contrasts with the faces of depravity. Europe against the Jews. A horror movie where the devil is the human being.