Trailer

Fateless

2005Movie2 h 20 min

79
GreatGoodWatch score

A deeply moving, profoundly sad war movie about history and a real life story, with standout cinematography and characters.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

You can close your eyes. You can turn away. But you will never forget.

A Hungarian youth comes of age at Buchenwald during World War II. György Köves is 14, the son of a merchant who's sent to a forced labor camp. After his father's departure, György gets a job at a brickyard; his bus is stopped and its Jewish occupants sent to camps. There, György find camaraderie, suffering, cruelty, illness, and death. He hears advice on preserving one's dignity and self-esteem. He discovers hatred. If he does survive and returns to Budapest, what will he find? What is natural; what is it to be a Jew? Sepia, black and white, and color alternate to shade the mood.

Feels like

  • Holocaust Drama
  • Coming-of-Age Tragedy
  • Philosophical Reflection
  • Visually Evocative
  • Historical Trauma
  • Psychological Journey
  • Dignity in Despair
  • Hungarian Cinema
  • Existential Questions
  • Literary Adaptation

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Lajos Koltai
Written by
Imre Kertész

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

February 10, 2005 · 2 h 20 min · Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Suicide Themes

Released
February 10, 2005
Runtime
2 h 20 min
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Suicide Themes
Genres
War, Drama
Original language
Hungarian
Also spoken
English, Hebrew, Yiddish, German, Polish
Made in
Germany, United Kingdom, Hungary, Austria
Budget
$250,000
Box office
$3 million
Available in
1 country

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Fateless?"

Questions about Fateless

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Fateless worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, and Metacritic 87). Critics rate it higher (91 out of 100) than audiences (68).

Is Fateless plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and pathos (10 of 10) more than on its plot.

Can I half-watch Fateless?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for philosophical and 7 for complexity.

Is Fateless in English?

HungarianEnglishHebrewYiddishGermanPolish

No, it was made in Hungarian, with some English, Hebrew, Yiddish, German, and Polish.