I an unable to comment on the American post war boom-town scenes, and hadn't realised how opulent post war New York was compared to bombed out and ruined EuropeOnly one reviewer above has seen thro all the glitzy schmaltz of the reviews to say that Auschwitz was an extermination camp. I have similar difficulties with my father as a British POW and people say "Oh he was in a Death Camp, how did he survive ?" the short answer is that he wasn't. But from the preconceptions it makes having a meaningful conversation difficult. I have to say I found most of the scenes unbelievable. I think more should have been made that this was a collection of peoples memories, each with a different message. I was in similar difficulties with The Pianist, where I thought some scenes were obviously true and some obviously untrueFrom the allegations made by the survivors, I thought there was a case for Dr Perl to answer. This film is probably not a vehicle for an adequate answer.

This is an outstanding piece of film making Joseph S does an excellent job directing this movie. His leading lady Christing Lahti steals the show completely she is 100% believable as Gisella Perl. This movie is based on the book "I was a Doctor In Auswitz", written by Dr Gisella Perl. The thing that really impressed me about Ms Lahti's work on this was the accent. She not only hits brilliantly but also delivers a performance to be both reckoned with and remembered. This film depicts the holocaust in to my way of thinking a very real way. There is one scene with a small baby that had me choking up it was tastefully done and acted to perfection. This is one of my all time favorite movies. I hope readers here get to watch it and that you all enjoy it as much as i did. I lack words to praise this picture or Ms Lahti's work on it enough......

In "Out of the Ashes", Lahti is out front delivering a typically sterling performance as a gynecologist and Auschwitz survivor who applies for citizenship to the US while reliving the horrors of her WWII experience via flashback before a panel of review not unlike the Spanish Inquisition. This lame flick is melodramatic to the point of the ridiculous with the bad guys being the personification of evil and the good guys being worthy of canonization as saints. If we needed another WWII death camp story, which we don't, this one certainly is not it. A pathetically melodramatic treatment of a serious subject in the guise of a biopic not worthy of further commentary. (C)

Joe Sargent was ruthless with the editing,the fast cuts pulled you right into the story, he made it move at a great pace.Don Morgan did a brilliant job on lighting - I love it when a DOP is not afraid to have faces drop into shadows. Beautiful texure throughout.Jeff Ginn did an absolute stellar job on production Design.The show felt like a feature film.Christine Lahti should be nominated for her role in this film