Those Who Remained (2019) – A Tender Portrait of Healing After Unspeakable Loss

Those Who Remained shows that healing after tragedy is found in unexpected human bonds.

“Those Who Remained” (2019) is a Hungarian drama that delicately explores the lingering scars of the Holocaust through an intimate story of connection and healing. Quiet yet profoundly moving, the film captures the struggles of survivors trying to find hope, love, and meaning in the aftermath of devastation.

Set in post–World War II Budapest, the story follows Dr. Aladár Körner, a middle-aged gynecologist who has survived the horrors of concentration camps but is left emotionally hollow. Into his life comes Klára, a 16-year-old girl who has also lost her family. Both scarred by grief and loneliness, they form a gentle, unconventional bond that becomes a source of comfort and survival for them both. Their relationship, marked by understanding and tenderness, is less about romance and more about the human need for closeness in times of despair.

The film thrives on subtlety, avoiding melodrama in favor of small, poignant moments that reveal the depth of trauma and resilience. Director Barnabás Tóth crafts a narrative that balances sorrow with hope, showing that healing is possible even in the shadow of unspeakable loss. By focusing on the quiet resilience of its characters, the film honors survivors not only as victims of history but as human beings capable of love and renewal.

Performances anchor the story with authenticity. Károly Hajduk as Dr. Körner conveys a man haunted yet yearning for connection, while Abigél Szõke brings innocence, vulnerability, and resilience to Klára. Their dynamic highlights the complexity of survivor relationships in a world still reeling from war’s destruction.

Ultimately, Those Who Remained (2019) is a meditation on grief, survival, and the enduring power of human connection. It’s a film that resonates long after the credits roll, reminding us that while trauma shapes us, the bonds we form can guide us toward healing.