The Last Days (1998)

In late 1944, even as they faced imminent defeat, the Nazis expended enormous resources to kill or deport over 425,000 Jews during the "cleansing" of Hungary. This Oscar-winning documentary... See full summary »

Director:

James Moll

Stars:

Bill Basch, Martin Basch, Randolph Braham

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Bill Basch	...	Self - Holocaust Survivor
Martin Basch	...	Self - Son
Randolph Braham	...	Self - Historian and Holocaust Survivor (as Dr. Randolph Braham)
Alice Lok Cahana	...	Self - Holocaust Survivor
Michael Cahana	...	Self - Son
Warren Dunn	...	Self - US Army, Dachau
Bernard Firestone	...	Self - Husband
Renee Firestone	...	Self - Holocaust Survivor (as Renée Firestone)
Dario Gabbai	...	Self - Sonderkommando, Birkenau
Tom Lantos	...	Self - Holocaust Survivor
Katsugo Miho	...	Self - US Army, Dachau
Hans Münch	...	Self - Nazi Doctor, Auschwitz (as Dr. Hans Münch)
Paul Parks	...	Self - US Army, Dachau (as Dr. Paul Parks)
Irene Zisblatt	...	Self - Holocaust Survivor
Robin Zisblatt	...	Self - Daughter

Storyline

In late 1944, even as they faced imminent defeat, the Nazis expended enormous resources to kill or deport over 425,000 Jews during the "cleansing" of Hungary. This Oscar-winning documentary, executive produced by Steven Spielberg, focuses on the plight of five Hungarian Jews who survived imprisonment in Auschwitz. Though these survivors recount the horrors they witnessed and endured as a result of the Nazis' "Final Solution," their individual triumphs are a testament to hope and humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

u.s. soldier | jew | hungarian | diamond | banana | 

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Taglines:

Everything you're about to see is true

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Genres:

Documentary | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for graphic images and descriptions of Holocaust atrocities

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hans Zimmer, the composer of the score, provided the music free of charge for the Survivors Of The Shoah Visual History Foundation.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bill Basch: There is one thing that has troubled me and has troubled the world, that the Germans dedicated man-power and trains and trucks and energy toward the destruction of the Jews to the last day. Had they stopped 6 months before the end of the war and dedicated that energy towards strengthening themselves, they may have carried on the war in London, but it was more important to them to kill the Jew than in winning the war.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Never Been Kissed/Blood, Guts, Bullets & Octane/Metroland/Go/The Last Days (1999)

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Soundtracks

Czardas Princess Highlights Overture
Written by Emmerich Kálmán (as Emmerich Kalman)
(c)1957 Vox Productions Inc., New York

User Reviews

Sincere

Heartbreaking and haunting listening to these survivors of the Holocaust recount the horrors they witnessed. The film itself felt sincere, real people telling real stories. It was nice to have it end on good notes, as the survivors went on to live their lives.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Hungarian

Release Date:

15 July 1999 (Australia)

Also Known As:

The Last Days

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,492, 7 February 1999

Gross USA:

$421,432

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$421,432

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ken Lipper/June Beallor production, Shoah Foundation, Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1