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Bau: Artist at War

Play trailer 2:05 Poster for Bau: Artist at War PG-13 2025 2h 10m History Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 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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Bau: Artist at War

Critics Reviews

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André Didyme-Dôme Rolling Stone en Español Aug 14, 2026
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] Go to Full Review Michael Medved The Michael Medved Show Feb 3, 2026
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. Go to Full Review Nora Lee Mandel Maven's Nest Oct 6, 2025
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 Go to Full Review Ria Dhull Spectrum Culture Sep 30, 2025
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. Go to Full Review Liam Lacey Original Cin Sep 26, 2025
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. Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Sep 26, 2025
Captivating, heartfelt and inspirational. A powerful protest against war, hate and intolerance. Emile Hirsch gives one of the best performances of his career. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Oscar Oct 8, 2025 Very. Powerful movie. Great movie would highly recommend See more Peter L Oct 4, 2025 Fantastic story, very well done, necessarily graphic in some parts. See more Anita M Oct 2, 2025 Loved the true love story and the true story about the holocaust. See more Carol Oct 2, 2025 Amazing true story. Im humbled. See more Alisa Oct 1, 2025 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. See more Diane Oct 1, 2025 Fabulous movie. Hits all emotions. Highly recommend seeing this movie. See more Read all reviews
Bau: Artist at War

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Cast & Crew

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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

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Bau: Artist at War

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Movie Info

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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