10 Movies to Watch This Tisha B’Av

Tisha B’Av is a hard day. Full stop. We’re not eating or drinking, we’re atoning for all the past sins of the Jewish people and we’re attempting to show Hashem how desperately we want Moshiach. Some need to get through the day in bed in a quiet, dark room while others watch Holocaust films as a way of connecting with the utter hardships the Jewish people have endured throughout our long history. 

It’s impossible not to be affected after watching one — not only do I feel so blessed to be a Jew at this time, now, but also, I feel so grateful for all the things I have in my life. I feel passionate about advocating for Jews and only want to grow more in my Yiddishkeit (Judaism) to make up for so many souls that were lost and didn’t get a chance to do so.

Here is a list of movies that have affected me deeply. Plus, scroll down for other resources if you’re looking for a different way to connect.

1. Woman in Gold (2015)

*Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family. Watch the trailer here.

2. Remembrance (2011)

*A Polish man rescues a Jewish woman during the chaos of WWII, but they become separated until a chance encounter over thirty years later in New York reunites them. Watch the trailer here. 

3. Life is Beautiful (1997)

*When an open-minded Jewish librarian and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp. Watch the trailer here.

4. Anne Frank: Parallel Stories (2019)

There are many different Anne Frank movies out there and all tell her harrowing story. This is a documentary in which five different survivors share their stories alongside Anne’s tale. Watch the trailer here.

5. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

*Seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the barbed wire has startling and unexpected consequences. Watch the trailer here. 

6. The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)

*Keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, must save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion in WWII Poland. Watch the trailer here.

7. Denial (2016)

*Acclaimed writer and historian Deborah E. Lipstadt must battle for historical truth to prove the Holocaust actually occurred when David Irving, a renowned denier, sues her for libel. Watch the trailer here.

8. Defiance (2008)

*Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe escape into the Belarussian forests, where they join Russian resistance fighters, and endeavor to build a village, to protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish non-combatants. Watch the trailer here.

9. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

*In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theater owner’s vengeful plans for the same. Watch the trailer here.

10. Waiting for Anya (2020)

*During the harrows of WWII, Jo, a young shepherd, along with the help of the widow Horcada, helps to smuggle Jewish children across the border from southern France into Spain. Watch the trailer here.

Additional Resources

Alternatively, if you can’t endure Holocaust movies or prefer something else, so many organizations and sites offer educational and inspirational shiurim (Torah classes) and articles. Try Aleph Beta, Torah Anytime and Ohr Naava for videos and live speakers throughout the day, or try Aish.com or Chabad.org for articles on relevant topics.

_{*All descriptions c/o IMDB.}