The Passenger

Though director Andrzej Munk died before he completed his work, leaving The Passenger unfinished, this film offers an intriguing and unique look into the manipulative relationship between Liza (Aleksandra Slaska), a German S.S. overseer, and Marta (Anna Ciepielewska), her Jewish prisoner, at Auschwitz. Eschewing the traditional gloss and glamour of Hollywood, Munk's film uses black and white stills, and minimalist scenes presented in narrative, documentary fashion. Yet, surprisingly, there is a plot, characters to follow, and more importantly, an insightful look into the perspective of a German jailer--who must also deal with her own psychological guilt and pain. Modeled after the novel by Zofia Posmysz-Piasecka, The Passenger offers a hauntingly fresh approach unlike many other Holocaust histories. Definitely worth the ride. Recommended. (M. K. Lau)