Synopsis
<p><img src="https://data.ajff.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/web_embed_Laurel_OpeningNight_01.png" style="max-width: 20%; width: 20%; border-width: 0px; margin-left: 10px; float: right;" />
<img src="https://data.ajff.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/web_embed_Laurel_JuryInCompetition_02.png" style="max-width: 20%; width: 20%; border-width: 0px; margin-left: 10px; float: right;" />Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson brings brilliant craft and emotional complexity to the true story of a Polish prizefighter and Holocaust survivor haunted by shame and memories of the woman he loves.</p>
<p>Bent, bruised, but never broken, Ben Foster portrays Herschel “Harry” Haft, forced into gladiatorial boxing matches with fellow Auschwitz prisoners for the grotesque amusement of their Nazi captors. It’s a bare-knuckles fight to the death, in which the loser is executed. After the war, Harry reaches for a normal life in Brighton Beach, using his talents in the ring to garner fame in a farfetched dream to unite with his lost wartime love Leah (Dar Zuzovsky). In an act of tribal loyalty, a no-nonsense Jewish trainer (Danny DeVito) helps Harry prepare to box legendary Rocky Marciano. Foster gives a deeply felt performance of stunning physical and emotional range, from ferocious violence to stifled grief. The effect is heartbreaking, particularly when accompanied by George Steel’s flawless camerawork and Hans Zimmer’s superb score. The stellar cast includes Peter Sarsgaard as a cynical journalist, Billy Magnussen as a sadistic SS officer, John Leguizamo as a brash boxing coach, and Vicky Krieps as an empathetic widow soothing Harry’s wounded soul.</p>
<p>Shifting between post-traumatic guilt and feverish flashbacks to the hellscape of the camps, this unflinching portrait lays bare the brutal adversity and moral ambiguity confronting those faced with a them-or-me choice to survive.</p>
<img src="https://data.ajff.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/web_embed_Laurel_JuryInCompetition_02.png" style="max-width: 20%; width: 20%; border-width: 0px; margin-left: 10px; float: right;" />Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson brings brilliant craft and emotional complexity to the true story of a Polish prizefighter and Holocaust survivor haunted by shame and memories of the woman he loves.</p>
<p>Bent, bruised, but never broken, Ben Foster portrays Herschel “Harry” Haft, forced into gladiatorial boxing matches with fellow Auschwitz prisoners for the grotesque amusement of their Nazi captors. It’s a bare-knuckles fight to the death, in which the loser is executed. After the war, Harry reaches for a normal life in Brighton Beach, using his talents in the ring to garner fame in a farfetched dream to unite with his lost wartime love Leah (Dar Zuzovsky). In an act of tribal loyalty, a no-nonsense Jewish trainer (Danny DeVito) helps Harry prepare to box legendary Rocky Marciano. Foster gives a deeply felt performance of stunning physical and emotional range, from ferocious violence to stifled grief. The effect is heartbreaking, particularly when accompanied by George Steel’s flawless camerawork and Hans Zimmer’s superb score. The stellar cast includes Peter Sarsgaard as a cynical journalist, Billy Magnussen as a sadistic SS officer, John Leguizamo as a brash boxing coach, and Vicky Krieps as an empathetic widow soothing Harry’s wounded soul.</p>
<p>Shifting between post-traumatic guilt and feverish flashbacks to the hellscape of the camps, this unflinching portrait lays bare the brutal adversity and moral ambiguity confronting those faced with a them-or-me choice to survive.</p>
Run Time
129
Year
2021
Has Subtitles
On
Directors
Outlets
Hero Image
Image
Media Type
Title
The Survivor
Genre
Languages
Website
Airtable ID
recJ0d2FDPbY75qBO
Content Hash
e2eb9c3afb6d49384a371c586cda2d74
Festival/Series
Path
/film/survivor
Media
Media Type
Poster Image
Image
Media Type
Title
Poster for The Survivor
IMDb ID
tt9242528
Sort Title
Survivor, The
Publish to ajff.org
Off
Publish to ajffrecommends.org
Off
Synopsis for ajffrecommends.org
<p>Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson brings brilliant craft and emotional complexity to the true story of a Polish prizefighter and Holocaust survivor haunted by shame and memories of the woman he loves.</p>
<p>Bent, bruised, but never broken, Ben Foster portrays Herschel “Harry” Haft, forced into gladiatorial boxing matches with fellow Auschwitz prisoners for the grotesque amusement of their Nazi captors. It’s a bare-knuckles fight to the death, in which the loser is executed. After the war, Harry reaches for a normal life in Brighton Beach, using his talents in the ring to garner fame in a farfetched dream to unite with his lost wartime love Leah (Dar Zuzovsky). In an act of tribal loyalty, a no-nonsense Jewish trainer (Danny DeVito) helps Harry prepare to box legendary Rocky Marciano. Foster gives a deeply felt performance of stunning physical and emotional range, from ferocious violence to stifled grief. The effect is heartbreaking, particularly when accompanied by George Steel’s flawless camerawork and Hans Zimmer’s superb score. The stellar cast includes Peter Sarsgaard as a cynical journalist, Billy Magnussen as a sadistic SS officer, John Leguizamo as a brash boxing coach, and Vicky Krieps as an empathetic widow soothing Harry’s wounded soul.</p>
<p>Shifting between post-traumatic guilt and feverish flashbacks to the hellscape of the camps, this unflinching portrait lays bare the brutal adversity and moral ambiguity confronting those faced with a them-or-me choice to survive.</p>
<p>Bent, bruised, but never broken, Ben Foster portrays Herschel “Harry” Haft, forced into gladiatorial boxing matches with fellow Auschwitz prisoners for the grotesque amusement of their Nazi captors. It’s a bare-knuckles fight to the death, in which the loser is executed. After the war, Harry reaches for a normal life in Brighton Beach, using his talents in the ring to garner fame in a farfetched dream to unite with his lost wartime love Leah (Dar Zuzovsky). In an act of tribal loyalty, a no-nonsense Jewish trainer (Danny DeVito) helps Harry prepare to box legendary Rocky Marciano. Foster gives a deeply felt performance of stunning physical and emotional range, from ferocious violence to stifled grief. The effect is heartbreaking, particularly when accompanied by George Steel’s flawless camerawork and Hans Zimmer’s superb score. The stellar cast includes Peter Sarsgaard as a cynical journalist, Billy Magnussen as a sadistic SS officer, John Leguizamo as a brash boxing coach, and Vicky Krieps as an empathetic widow soothing Harry’s wounded soul.</p>
<p>Shifting between post-traumatic guilt and feverish flashbacks to the hellscape of the camps, this unflinching portrait lays bare the brutal adversity and moral ambiguity confronting those faced with a them-or-me choice to survive.</p>
Premiere Status
Special Messaging
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REGISTER HERE by Tuesday, February 22 • 7:00 PM