“An absolute classic” is available to stream for free and it’s been labelled a “devastating treat”. 

There is no denying that Steven Spielberg’s Second World War film Schindler’s List starring Liam Neeson is an iconic film with the “harrowing” true story airing this evening, Sunday, January 18, at 10pm on BBC Two.

However, another movie set just after the war has been hailed as the “most powerful film [viewers] have ever seen” and what’s even more exciting is the fact that it’s free to watch.

“This movie is almost perfect, if there is such a thing”, someone posted as another agreed: “This is a powerhouse movie, devastating and heartbreaking to the extreme.”

A third remarked: “Absolutely heartbreaking. Fantastic movie, truly heartbreaking, but very well made.”

The “brutal” film, based on the best-selling book of the same name by author William Styron, tells the story of writer Stingo who befriends a Polish Holocaust survivor and her volatile lover in 1947 Brooklyn.

As time passes from Stingo’s perspective, he learns all about the woman’s traumatic past and how they have shaped and haunted her present struggles.

But the Oscar Award-winning 1982 film Sophie’s Choice is overwhelmingly remembered for the horrifying decision she had to make when she was transported to Auschwitz.

Sophie Zawistowska (played by Meryl Streep) had to choose which one of her children, a daughter and a son, would live and which would be taken from her to be killed.

Sophie’s Choice is now ready to watch for free via ITV‘s streaming service ITVX.

While movie fanatics have argued in favour of both Schindler’s List and Sophie’s Choice, many believe that it is this harrowing scene which really makes the latter stand out.

Someone posted on Reddit: “I found this movie much more emotionally upsetting than Schindler’s List.

“It felt much more personal, there was that incredibly weird dynamic between Streep and Kline, and then her mysterious past — that revealed that her ‘choice’ was beyond brutal.”

Another echoed: “Schindler’s List to me is overall inspiring because it is focused on a positive story – albeit amidst the most horrific background – but Sophie’s Choice is personal and brutal as you said.”

Piling on the praise for “one of the best movies ever”, a fan shared: “The story telling is good and the plot twist and ending are incredible, this seems like an absolute classic.”

“Meryl Streep gives her finest performance ever as Sophie”, a fellow fan said.

“In fact, her performance here is quite possibly the best movie acting that I have ever seen.”

Others have described it as a “devastating treat”, “gut-wrenching” and “the best movie ever made”.

Sophie’s Choice is available to watch on ITVX.