The 2018 biographical drama The Photographer of Mauthausen, which recounts the true story of a Spanish prisoner who risked his life to document Nazi atrocities, is now streaming on Netflix. The film holds an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised for its historical accuracy.
A Daring Plan Inside a Concentration Camp
Set in 1943 at the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in Austria, the film follows Francesc Boix, a Spanish prisoner working in the camp's photography laboratory. After hearing of the German defeat at Stalingrad, Boix realises that the Nazi paramilitary group Schutzstaffel (SS) would attempt to erase evidence of their crimes against humanity.
Boix persuades his fellow prisoners that they must turn the camera into a weapon. He launches an operation to copy and smuggle out photographic negatives that captured the horrors of the camp, including mass killings, torture, and visits from senior Nazi figures such as Heinrich Himmler.
Rising Danger and Critical Acclaim
As Allied troops advance by 1945, the threat intensifies when the camp commandant, Franz Ziereis, demands the destruction of all photographic evidence and orders the killing of prisoners who possess too much knowledge.
Directed by Mar Targarona, the film stars Mario Casas as Francesc Boix, alongside Richard van Weyden, Stefan Weinert, Alain Hernández, and Adrià Salazar. Reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes have praised its naturalistic performances, unflinching historical accuracy, and deeply distressing portrayal of the Holocaust.
Reviewer Responses
One Common Sense Media reviewer called it a "harrowing concentration camp tale" that "lauds bravery and resolve," while another wrote that it is "very historically accurate to the events that took place, and there are also very precise details that are true."
That reviewer added: "The actors who played in this movie had an outstanding performance, especially Richard van Weyden as Ricken and Stefan Weinert as Franz Ziereis. In conclusion, great movie if you like historically true dramas; I would recommend."
A further reviewer commented: "Another film told from first-hand witnesses to the atrocities of World War II under fascist control. It's important to watch films like this so we never forget what happened (and work hard to never allow it to happen again)." They added: "I found this film to be very moving."
The Photographer of Mauthausen is currently available to watch on Netflix.
