Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Berlin Film Festival Celebrates 40 Years of 'Shoah'

2/18/2025

29 4

Summary

Story summary

The Berlin Film Festival honors the profound legacy of Claude Lanzmann's monumental documentary "Shoah," marking its 40th anniversary. Alongside this tribute, Guillaume Ribot's compelling new film "All I Had Was Nothingness" debuts, offering an intimate glimpse into Lanzmann's creative journey through 220 hours of outtakes and his memoir, illuminating his relentless pursuit to capture the Holocaust's haunting truths.

History

Historical Context

The Berlin Film Festival, celebrating Claude Lanzmann's "Shoah," reflects a long history of cinema confronting the Holocaust. Since its inception in 1951, the festival has showcased films that challenge narratives around trauma and memory. Lanzmann's work, released in 1985, remains pivotal, paralleling other significant Holocaust representations, such as "Schindler's List," which also sought to illuminate the horrors of genocide through film.

1 of 2

Story summary

The Berlin Film Festival honors the profound legacy of Claude Lanzmann's monumental documentary "Shoah," marking its 40th anniversary. Alongside this tribute, Guillaume Ribot's compelling new film "All I Had Was Nothingness" debuts, offering an intimate glimpse into Lanzmann's creative journey through 220 hours of outtakes and his memoir, illuminating his relentless pursuit to capture the Holocaust's haunting truths.

1 / 2