Bau: Artist at War

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Bau: Artist at War

PG-13

2025

2h 10m

History

Drama

Biography

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8 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Bau, Artist at War is the extraordinary true story of Joseph Bau, a man who defied the darkness of the Holocaust with art, humor, and an unbreakable spirit. A gifted artist and master forger, Joseph risked his life to save others, using his talent to create false documents that helped fellow prisoners escape certain death. But in the depths of despair, he discovered something even more powerful... love. In the Plaszow concentration camp, amid relentless brutality, Joseph met Rebecca -- a woman whose courage matched his own. Their secret wedding, held in the very heart of hell itself, was a defiant act of love in the face of unimaginable horror -- an event later immortalized in Schindler's List. Years later, when Joseph is called to testify against the sadistic Nazi officer who tormented him, he is forced to relive the horrors of his past. But through it all, he draws strength from the love that saved him, the art that sustained him, and the unyielding will that kept him alive. A gripping war drama, a daring espionage thriller, and one of the greatest love stories of our time, Bau, Artist at War is a testament to the power of resilience, the triumph of the human spirit, and the unbreakable bonds that even war could not destroy.

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André Didyme-Dôme

Rolling Stone en Español

Aug 14

Paradoxically, it ends up demonstrating just how much an extraordinary story can endure before being buried beneath a mediocre and manipulative film. [Full review in Spanish]

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Michael Medved

The Michael Medved Show

Feb 3

3/4

A sensitive and surprisingly optimistic Holocaust drama. Emile Hirsch gives a solid performance, and Sean McNamara’s heartfelt direction makes this story of survival, love, and artistic resilience consistently compelling.

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Nora Lee Mandel

Maven's Nest

Oct 6

8/10

Makes movingly clear their marriage in a concentration camp in "Schindler's List" was just a small part of Baus’ lives and their significance in the Holocaust plus. Uses impressive mix of archival footage, animation, and Bau’s serious and satirical art

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Ria Dhull

Spectrum Culture

Sep 30

The lazy portrait McNamara creates of Joseph Bau unwittingly displays the man as obsequious, too willing to use his artistic talents in service of any authoritative figure.

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Liam Lacey

Original Cin

Sep 26

C-

In its aim to serve as inspirational entertainment, the story of artist and Holocaust survivor Joseph Bau plays like an unintentional parody of the ethically and aesthetically entangled genre.

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Sep 26

Captivating, heartfelt and inspirational. A powerful protest against war, hate and intolerance. Emile Hirsch gives one of the best performances of his career.

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Oscar

Oct 8

Very. Powerful movie. Great movie would highly recommend

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Peter L

Oct 4

Fantastic story, very well done, necessarily graphic in some parts.

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Anita M

Oct 2

Loved the true love story and the true story about the holocaust.

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Carol

Oct 2

Amazing true story. Im humbled.

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Alisa

Oct 1

One of the best movies I've ever seen! The actors were great and the story of resilience and hope is such a wonderful testimony that one can survive even the darkest night.

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Diane

Oct 1

Fabulous movie. Hits all emotions. Highly recommend seeing this movie.

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Emile Hirsch

Joseph Bau

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Rebecca

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Synopsis

Bau, Artist at War is the extraordinary true story of Joseph Bau, a man who defied the darkness of the Holocaust with art, humor, and an unbreakable spirit. A gifted artist and master forger, Joseph risked his life to save others, using his talent to create false documents that helped fellow prisoners escape certain death. But in the depths of despair, he discovered something even more powerful... love. In the Plaszow concentration camp, amid relentless brutality, Joseph met Rebecca -- a woman whose courage matched his own. Their secret wedding, held in the very heart of hell itself, was a defiant act of love in the face of unimaginable horror -- an event later immortalized in Schindler's List. Years later, when Joseph is called to testify against the sadistic Nazi officer who tormented him, he is forced to relive the horrors of his past. But through it all, he draws strength from the love that saved him, the art that sustained him, and the unyielding will that kept him alive. A gripping war drama, a daring espionage thriller, and one of the greatest love stories of our time, Bau, Artist at War is a testament to the power of resilience, the triumph of the human spirit, and the unbreakable bonds that even war could not destroy.

Director: Sean McNamara
Producer: David Brookwell, Sean McNamara, Deborah Smerecnik, Marc Griffith, Michelle P Griffith
Screenwriter: Deborah Smerecnik, Ronald Bass, Sonia Kifferstein
Distributor: ShowBiz Direct / Republic Pictures
Production Co: Brookwell-McNamara Entertainment, Busy Bee Film Production, Iron Image Media
Rating: PG-13 (Smoking|Partial Nudity|Thematic Material|Some Language|Strong Violent Content|Suggestive Material)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2025
Runtime: 2h 10m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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