10 Thrilling Films Set in Concentration Camps

Description: This film explores the life of a Polish immigrant in New York, haunted by her experiences in Auschwitz. The titular choice she makes is one of the most harrowing moments in cinema history.

Fact: Meryl Streep won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Sophie. The film was adapted from William Styron's novel of the same name.

Description: Although primarily about Oskar Schindler's efforts to save Jews, the film includes harrowing scenes in Plaszow concentration camp, making it a poignant addition to this list.

Fact: The film was shot in black and white to reflect the period's photographic style. Steven Spielberg donated his salary to the Shoah Foundation.

Description: While not exclusively set in a concentration camp, this film includes scenes from the Warsaw Ghetto and the camps, focusing on the survival of a Jewish pianist during the Holocaust.

Fact: Adrien Brody won the Best Actor Oscar for his role, and he famously sold his car to better understand the character's plight.

Description: This film tells the story of a young boy whose father is commandant at Auschwitz, and his unlikely friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence.

Fact: The film was adapted from John Boyne's novel. It's known for its controversial ending, which has sparked much discussion.

Description: Based on the true story of Gisella Perl, a Hungarian Jewish gynecologist who survived Auschwitz and later testified at the Nuremberg trials.

Fact: The film stars Christine Lahti, who also served as an executive producer. It was made for television but has since gained a wider audience.

Description: This film is based on the true story of the Sonderkommando, Jewish prisoners forced to work in the gas chambers and crematoria at Auschwitz. It's a gripping tale of moral dilemmas and the desperate fight for survival.

Fact: The film was shot in black and white to evoke the documentary feel of the era. The screenplay was adapted from a play by Tim Blake Nelson, who also directed the film.

Description: Set during WWII, this film tells the story of a group of prisoners in Sachsenhausen who are forced to produce counterfeit money for the Nazis. It's a tense thriller about survival, deception, and the moral choices made under duress.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in

Description: While not set in a camp, this film tells the story of Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto, many of whom would have ended up in camps.

Fact: The film was made for television and stars Anna Paquin as Irena Sendler. It's based on the book "The Story of Irena Sendler" by Anna Mieszkowska.

Description: This film adaptation of Heather Morris's novel tells the love story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who becomes the tattooist at Auschwitz, and Gita, a fellow prisoner.

Fact: The book was based on interviews with Lale Sokolov, who survived Auschwitz and lived to tell his story.

Description: One of the earliest films to depict the Holocaust, it was made by survivors and focuses on the resistance within Auschwitz.

Fact: Directed by Wanda Jakubowska, who herself was a prisoner at Auschwitz, making this film a unique piece of historical testimony.