8.4/10
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43 user 70 critic

Shoah (1985)

Not Rated | | Documentary, History, War | November 1985 (USA)
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Claude Lanzmann's epic documentary recounts the story of the Holocaust through interviews with witnesses - perpetrators as well as survivors.

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14 wins. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Himself (as Michaël Podchlebnik)
Motke Zaïdl ...
Himself
Hanna Zaïdl ...
Herself
Jan Piwonski ...
Himself
Itzhak Dugin ...
Himself
Richard Glazar ...
Himself (as Richard Glazer)
Paula Biren ...
Herself
Helena Pietyra ...
Herself (as Pana Pietyra)
Pan Filipowicz ...
Himself
Pan Falborski ...
Himself
Abraham Bomba ...
Himself
Czeslaw Borowi ...
Himself
...
Rudolf Vrba ...
Himself
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Storyline

Claude Lanzmann directed this 9 1/2 hour documentary of the Holocaust without using a single frame of archive footage. He interviews survivors, witnesses, and ex-Nazis (whom he had to film secretly since they only agreed to be interviewed by audio). His style of interviewing by asking for the most minute details is effective at adding up these details to give a horrifying portrait of the events of Nazi genocide. He also shows, or rather lets some of his subjects themselves show, that the anti-Semitism that caused 6 million Jews to die in the Holocaust is still alive and well in many people who still live in Germany, Poland, and elsewhere. Written by Gene Volovich <volovich@netcom.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

holocaust | genocide | nazi | jew | poland | See All (52) »


Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

| | | |

Release Date:

November 1985 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Шоа  »

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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,874, 12 December 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$15,642, 2 January 2011
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(some scenes)|

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

An estimated 225 hours of footage were shot. The editing process took 5 years. See more »

Goofs

Srebnik and Podchlebnik were not the only Jewish survivors of the Chelmno Extermination Camp. Today we know at least 9 by name, but not all survived WWII and/or gave testimonies. Lanzmann probably didn't know then. See more »

Quotes

Claude Lanzmann: And this "death panic"?
Franz Suchomel: When this "death panic" sets in, one lets go. It's well known when someone's terrified, and knows he's about to die; it can happen in bed. My mother was kneeling by her bed...
Claude Lanzmann: Your mother?
Franz Suchomel: Yes. Then there was a big pile. That's a fact. It's been medically proven.
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Connections

Referenced in Gilmore Girls: Richard in Stars Hollow (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

Mandolinen um Mitternacht
Performed by Peter Alexander (uncredited)
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User Reviews

Best Holocaust Documentary I've Seen
12 May 2000 | by See all my reviews

In contrast to most movies on the subject, this holocaust documentary contains no grisly wartime footage. Instead it presents a wide range of perspectives on the time mostly from those who were there when it happened: concentration camp survivors, neighbors of Jews who were deported, and even several important Nazi functionaries. The visual backdrop to the interviews with witnesses consists largely of images from the interviews coupled with footage of the mostly abandoned sites where atrocities occurred. The overall effect is devastating.


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