Bau: Artist at War

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Bau: Artist at War

PG-13

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2h 10m

Drama

Romance

War

History

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6 Reviews

93%

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50+ 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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Nora Lee Mandel

Maven's Nest

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

Rated: 8/10

Oct 6, 2025

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Ria Dhull

Spectrum Culture

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.

Sep 30, 2025

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Liam Lacey

Original Cin

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.

Rated: C-

Sep 26, 2025

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

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

Sep 26, 2025

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Mark Dujsik

Mark Reviews Movies

[T]here is nothing visually or, apart from its sometimes-jarring tone, narratively unique about this movie.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 25, 2025

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Bobby LePire

Film Threat

The directing is spot on and innovative, creating a beautiful yet haunting look to the proceedings.

Rated: 8.5/10

Sep 12, 2025

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Oscar

Very. Powerful movie. Great movie would highly recommend

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/08/25

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Peter L

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/04/25

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Anita M

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

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Carol

Amazing true story. Im humbled.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

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Alisa

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

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Diane

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

Full Review

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Sean McNamara

Director

Emile Hirsch

Joseph Bau

Inbar Lavi

Rebecca

Yan Tual

Franz Gruen

Adam Tsekhman

Itzhak Stern

Edward Foy

Oskar Schindler

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Bau: Artist at War: Trailer 1

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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 (Thematic Material|Some Language|Smoking|Partial Nudity|Strong Violent Content|Suggestive Material)
Genre: Drama, Romance, War, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 2h 10m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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