Out of the Ashes
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Movie Reviews of Out of the Ashes
Movie Review: Gripping, Powerful Story of a Doctor in Auschwitz
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the story of Dr. Gisella Perl and her struggle to survive Auschwitz and become an American citizen. Dr. Perl was born to a religious Jewish family in Sighet (the same town as Elie Wiesel) and struggled, against her father's wishes, to become a doctor. Although a doctor of reknown in her town, she was transported to Auschwitz along with all the other Jews in Sighet. There, she tried to save as many lives as she could. Dr. Perl also prevented women from being killed and experminted upon (and their children experimented upon) by Dr. Mengele. This sometimes required aborting the babies before Dr. Mengele could become aware that the women were pregnant. Although no movie can fully depict the horror of Auschwitz, this one pulls no puches.
Dr. Perl manages to survive Auschwitz, but after arriving in America, must take menial jobs in hospitals. Her story is told through an inquisition by INS officials, who question what she did in Auschwitz. The suffering Dr. Perl endured, the things she saw, and the choices she had to make are extremely painful. It is impossible to judge her actions without walking in her footsteps. Who knows how any of us would act under the same circumstances?
This is a remarkable story. Christine Lahti movingly and realistically portrays Dr. Perl. I agree with the reviewer who says that we don't see Ms. Lahti in enough films -- she is an incredible actress. This film is well beyond most made-for-TV movies. It is a must see.
Movie Review: A Dark and Moving Moment of History and Consequences
Summary: 5 Stars
OUT OF THE ASHES was released last year as a film for television and fortunately it is now available on DVD for extended audience exposure. Directed by Joseph Sargent and based on the autobiography of Dr. Gisella Perl, this film is about the survival of a physician (Dr. Perl) so compassionate in her dedication to her fellow inmates at Auschwitz that, knowing pregnant Jews were among the first to be cremated in the Nazi ovens, knowingly performed numerous abortions and in doing so saved the lives of countless women. As if her rigors of survival in the concentration camps and her loss of her family to the Nazis weren't enough, she immigrated to the United States for refuge, served in menial medical tasks until she was able to take and pass her exams for medical licensure only to face a panel of folk who declare her a criminal for her role in the concentration camps and make every attempt to prevent her from practicing medicine in the USA. How she survives all of this constitutes the message of this powerful film, but to divulge the ending would diminish the impact for the new viewer. As Dr. Perl, Christine Lahti (one of our most underused and finest actresses) gives a wholly credible, sensitive portrayal: her character remains etched on our minds long after the film is finished. Also in this excellent cast are Richard Crenna, Bruce Davidson, and Beau Bridges among many others in small but pungent roles. Highly recommended.Movie Review: One Very Touching Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Christine Lahti does an excellent acting job as Gisella Perl. Gisella, a Chekoslovakian Jew, from early childhood had always wanted to be a doctor, which she grows up to become. When her whole family is taken to Auschwitz, she eventually is put in charge of running the infirmary, where in order to save the lives of the women, she does over a thousand abortions. When a women has a baby in the concentration camp, both the mother and baby are sent to the crematorium. Gisella works alongside Joseph Mengele who does insanely burtal experiments on Jews and gypsies and others deserving of the Nazi final solution.
After the war Giselle comes to live in the United States, where after passing her medical exams, she needs to become a U.S. citizen to be allowed to practice medicine in this country. Gisella has to go before a board and answer some very hard questions about her work at Auschwitz before she can obtain her citizenship. The message of the Holocaust should never be forgotten. Not only di many Jews die, but even more Christians. Those who contend that it never happened need to talk to brave men who rescued people from the concentration campsat the end of the war. There are still some of them living. I would highly recommend this movie.
Movie Review: Utterly absorbing!
Summary: 5 Stars
I missed this excellent show when it was on Showtime, so I got it when it was released on DVD. The story is a true account of a Holocaust survivor, made unique by the fact that the survivor was no ordinary person, but a gynaecologist, Dr Gisella Perl, who loses her family to the gas chambers, and has to do what is necessary to survive amidst the worst conditions imaginable...by working alongside the infamous butcher doctor, Josef Mengele. The movie is told via flashbacks, as in the present day, Dr Perl is interviewed by a panel considering her application for US citizenship and allowing her to practise medicine in the US. Although I sympathised with her character [played brilliantly by Christine Lahti], there were moments where I questioned some of her choices as a doctor in Auschwitz. BUT, this movie does make you think...how far would you go in order to survive? Would one's moral compass remain intact in the face of such cruelty, evil & banality? The story is one that is definitely worth viewing, the scenes at the camp are really gut-wrenching, and horrific, and the acting is excellent, so is the cinematography, evoking the hopelessness of the time. Worth multiple viewings.Movie Review: full moral ambiguity with heart
Summary: 5 Stars
When we bought this, I thought, "not another holocaust film!" So there it sat for months, unopened. Then last night, I finally got the courage to try watching it, and became utterly rivetted and deeply moved.
This is the true story of a remarkable survivor, a doctor from Auschwitz, who suffered the loss of her entire family and took many questionable actions to survive. While saving many lives, she also dealt with Mengele and felt that she had violated her oath as a doctor. She is not a simple good guy, but a full-blown character who acknowledges the necessity of her actions and yet feels terrible guilt. Lahti delivers the best performance I have ever seen her give, not as the beautiful young woman she is but prematurely aged and worn. She is totally believable and charismatic.
Though made for TV, this is a great film. Warmly recommended. You will be moved yet again by the one of greatest trajedies of the 20C.