The Photographer of Mauthausen

"The Photographer of Mauthausen" is translated from the original title, "El Fótografo de Mauthausen." It is a Spanish film with English subtitles.

The film tells the true story of Francesc Boix, a photographer in the documentation department in the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria.

As a photographer in the camp, it was Boix's job to take pictures of those that entered the camp, as well as photographs of events at the camp, as well as propaganda photographs for the S.S. officers. He was also capture images of visitors to the camp, including Himmler, as well as many crimes against humanity being perpetrated in the camp.

In one key moment in the film, Boix's commanding officer demands that he burn the photographs taken while in the camp. In a moment of heroism, Boix decides to protect keep all of the negatives.

The photography of Francesc Boix was used in trials after the war to prove the human atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi party. He testified in the Nuremburg trial and in the trial held by American military forces.

To me, the most poignant part of the film is during the credits, when Boix's actual photographs are shown. It is quickly evident that the film has used his photographs as source material for several scenes throughout the film. Seeing the real photographs makes me eager to watch the film again, to look for these scenes.

As many films set in World War II, the film is violent and bloody. Violence comes at the blink of an eye, as it can in real life. While troubling to watch, it is a brilliant story of heroism in the darkest of situations.

"The Photographer of Mauthausen", now streaming on Netflix.

5 stars

To read more about Francesc Boix and his extraordinary act of heroism:
 http://historyrightnow.com/francesc-boix/

https://www.netflix.com/title/80191608

www.lalunapress.com

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