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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5 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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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JR

Excellent, moving, powerful, life-affirming film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/30/25

Full Review

Joseph B

A must-see film for anyone who cherishes humanity over barbarism, good over evil. Suspenseful and humorous with brilliant acting and a gripping true-story!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

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ACE

was a true story, about the camps and treatment, what had happened to the people

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

Full Review

Nicholas

A truly fabulous film. Heartfelt love story about survival in the face of overwhelming obstacles and cruelty. A story of redemption, love and the triumph of the human spirit!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

Full Review

eli B

Excellent movie! Great love story based on real events. Powerful!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

Full Review

Peter H

Bau, Artist at War is nothing short of a masterpiece. Emile Hirsch and Inbar Lavi deliver Oscar-caliber performances, inhabiting their roles with depth and authenticity. Every element, from the score to the lighting, cinematography, and set design, lands with precision and artistry. At the heart of this brilliance is Sean McNamara. His direction is both confident and compassionate, steering the film with clarity of purpose while allowing the actors and craftspeople around him to shine. McNamara proves why he belongs in the conversation as one of the finest directors of our time, with an uncanny ability to merge storytelling and visual poetry. He reminds us that cinema, like the art it depicts, has the power to endure, to heal, and to inspire. Bau, Artist at War is not just a film, it is a testament. A testament to art, to resilience, and to the kind of filmmaking that resonates on every level, firmly belonging in the company of the very best works of historical cinema.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

Full Review

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Sean McNamara

Director

Emile Hirsch

Joseph Bau

Inbar Lavi

Rebecca

Josh Zuckerman

Michael

Brittany Mitchell

Bruhnhilda

Josh Blacker

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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)