Lajos Koltai, the Hungarian cinematographer responsible for enhancing most of the films in which he was asked to photograph, decided to take a break from behind the camera in order to concentrate when he decided to take Imre Kertesz's novel to the screen. Mr. Kertesz, the winner of the Nobel prize for literature, own experiences as a prisoner of war were the basis for this moving cinematic account of one of the worst horrors in history. Mr. Koltai was helped in his debut by trusting Gyula Pados to photograph the story, as well as asking Ennio Morricone, one of the best in the movie business, to do the musical score.
We are taken to the Budapest of 1944 where Gyuri Koves, a fourteen year old Hungarian Jew lives with his family. His life is about to change. His father is going to a work camp, and Gyuri also decides to go. Little prepares him when fate intervenes and he is taken from the bus he took to the train that will transfer him to a concentration camp. The horrors Gyuri experiences will make him a stronger individual having seen death on a daily basis. Gyuri survives the holocaust, but he had to pay a dear price when he gets back to reality.
Best thing in the film is Marcell Nagy, who as Gyuri runs away with the picture. This young actor was an asset for director Koltai because of the magnificent performance the director got from this young man. As movies of this genre go, "Fateless" will stay in the viewer's mind for a long time. The ensemble players make a great contribution to our overall enjoyment. There is a cameo appearance by Dan Director Koltai bathes the film in color in the initial scenes in Budapest, then, he changes to a sepia tone and even to a bluish tone that work fine with the narrative. There is a cameo appearance by Daniel Craig as an Allied soldier that is liberating the camps.
"Fateless" is a hard film to sit through, although highly recommend it because of its antiwar message. Thanks for a job well done Lajos Koltai.
We are taken to the Budapest of 1944 where Gyuri Koves, a fourteen year old Hungarian Jew lives with his family. His life is about to change. His father is going to a work camp, and Gyuri also decides to go. Little prepares him when fate intervenes and he is taken from the bus he took to the train that will transfer him to a concentration camp. The horrors Gyuri experiences will make him a stronger individual having seen death on a daily basis. Gyuri survives the holocaust, but he had to pay a dear price when he gets back to reality.
Best thing in the film is Marcell Nagy, who as Gyuri runs away with the picture. This young actor was an asset for director Koltai because of the magnificent performance the director got from this young man. As movies of this genre go, "Fateless" will stay in the viewer's mind for a long time. The ensemble players make a great contribution to our overall enjoyment. There is a cameo appearance by Dan Director Koltai bathes the film in color in the initial scenes in Budapest, then, he changes to a sepia tone and even to a bluish tone that work fine with the narrative. There is a cameo appearance by Daniel Craig as an Allied soldier that is liberating the camps.
"Fateless" is a hard film to sit through, although highly recommend it because of its antiwar message. Thanks for a job well done Lajos Koltai.