Imagine yourself sitting around a campfire with a bunch of Jesus’s disciples and hearing him say, “Let me tell you a story,” and then he proceeds with the tale of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37) or the finding of the pearl of great price (Mt. 13: 45-46). How would it feel to hear these stories from Jesus? If it was me, I think I would feel privileged to be part of the group at the Lord’s feet and yet challenged by his message.
This is exactly how I felt when I watched the new film, Bau, Artist at War from director Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer, Reagan). It’s as if McNamara said, “Let me tell you a story,” and proceeds to spin a tale so beautiful and relevant that one might not believe it unless it was true.
The film tells the true story of Joseph and Rebecca Bau (Emile Hirsch and Inbar Lavi), survivors of the Plaszow Concentration Camp in Krakow, Poland. Joseph was an artist and aided the resistance by providing document forgeries. In the camp, he was called upon to make maps for the Nazis. His access to paper and materials meant that he could continue forging right under Nazi noses.
If you’ve seen Schindler’s List, you may remember the short scene of a wedding in the camp. That was the Bau’s wedding. Having seen Rebecca in the office of Kommendant Goeth (Josh Blacker), he was immediately smitten and kept finding ways to see and speak to her. The way he traded his ration of bread with various people in order to procure a spoon that could be re-shaped into wedding rings was sweetness.
So, why is Bau’s story one of hope for today? It’s not just that he survived but that he was resilient in a way that seems almost beyond human ability. You see, he was able to keep a sense of humor about him even in the most horrific circumstances. He would do everything he could to put a smile on the faces of his fellow prisoners. He drew amusing flip book stories, such as bird droppings falling on Nazi heads and spun outrageous tales, nowhere near the truth, just to get others to laugh.
Bau’s ability to remain undaunted by his surroundings really grated on one Nazi guard in particular, Franz Gruen (Yan Tual). He seemed to have it in for Bau and tried to crush his body and spirit at every turn. Because Bau’s talents were essential to the Kommendant, Goeth reprimanded Gruen for his treatment of the artist, causing enough humiliation that Gruen retaliated in unthinkable ways.
What might this kind of resilience look like in life today? What can Joseph Bau’s story mean for us? Amazingly, just like Bau, we have the power to choose how to respond to any situation in which we find ourselves. What is the most difficult thing you have ever faced? Bau faced all the dangers of the Nazi concentration camp and yet found the strength and courage in his heart to use his art and humor to uplift others. He had the audacity and unbreakable spirit to fall in love in the darkest of places.
If Joseph Bau’s life was one of Jesus’s parables, anyone who sees Bau, Artist at War will feel privileged to witness this story unfolding. People might also feel challenged by the inspiration it provides. The power to choose peace, serenity, and positivity, even in the midst of the most difficult circumstances is something every one of us can wield. The question we need to ask ourselves in the darkness is: Do I have the courage of heart to use that power to bring light into the darkness?
For more information about Bau, Artist at War, visit the film’s website.
Thanks to OSV News for permission to re-post this article.