The Beautiful Beast

This script earned a spot in the top 10% of the 2025 PAGE screenwriting contest. Set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II, 'The Beautiful Beast' chronicles the chilling story of Irma Grese, one of the youngest female guards at the infamous concentration camps of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. The film opens with a flashback to the final days of the Bergen-Belsen camp, where chaos reigns as British forces close in. Irma Grese, a strikingly beautiful yet terrifying figure, is seen grappling with her fear as the guards burn documents and prisoners cheer at the sight of liberation. This moment sets the stage for her complex character, torn between her indoctrination and the reality of her actions. The narrative shifts to the Lüneburg courtroom, where Grese stands trial for her war crimes. The courtroom is filled with survivors, including Miriam, a Polish-Jewish woman who endured the horrors of the camps. As the prosecutor presents evidence of Grese's atrocities, including her enjoyment in inflicting pain and suffering, the audience is drawn into the psychological battle between the defendant and the witnesses. Grese's calm demeanor and chilling responses reveal a woman who has been molded by a brutal regime, yet remains unrepentant for her actions. Flashbacks intersperse the courtroom drama, depicting Grese's rise within the SS ranks. We see her training at Ravensbrück, where she learns to wield power over the prisoners with a whip and a dog, relishing the fear she instills. Her interactions with Dr. Josef Mengele highlight her complicity in the inhumane experiments conducted on prisoners, showcasing her chilling detachment from the suffering around her. The film delves into her past, revealing a childhood marked by a harsh father who instilled in her the belief that strength is paramount and weakness is to be purged. As the trial progresses, survivors recount their harrowing experiences, painting a vivid picture of Grese's cruelty. Each testimony serves as a reminder of the horrors she perpetuated, from forcing prisoners to fight for scraps of food to personally overseeing executions. The emotional weight of these accounts culminates in a powerful confrontation between Miriam and Grese, where Miriam's raw anger and pain challenge Grese's facade of indifference. The climax of the film occurs during the verdict, where Grese's chilling declaration of 'no regret' sends shockwaves through the courtroom. The film concludes with her execution, a haunting reminder of the consequences of her actions. As she faces her fate, Grese's final moments are marked by a disturbing calmness, leaving the audience to grapple with the complexities of her character and the nature of evil. Through its unflinching portrayal of one of history's most notorious figures, 'The Beautiful Beast' invites viewers to reflect on the moral ambiguities of war, the capacity for cruelty within humanity, and the haunting legacy of the Holocaust.