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The 12-year struggle behind Holocaust documentary 'Shoah' explored in new film

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A new documentary, 'All I Had Was Nothingness,' explores the 12-year struggle to create Claude Lanzmann's seminal Holocaust documentary, 'Shoah.'
  • The film uses Lanzmann's own words from audio recordings and journals, alongside key outtakes, to chronicle the difficult journey to screen.
  • Lanzmann faced significant funding challenges, particularly from American sources, due to the film's unflinching focus on death.

The documentary 'All I Had Was Nothingness' delves into the arduous 12-year production of Claude Lanzmann's acclaimed Holocaust film, 'Shoah.' Director Guillaume Ribot utilizes Lanzmann's personal audio recordings and journal entries, read by Ribot himself, to illuminate the immense challenges faced in bringing the powerful film to life. The documentary also incorporates crucial outtakes from 'Shoah,' offering viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into its creation.

Making Shoah was a long and difficult battle. I wanted to film, but all I had was nothingness. The subject of Shoah is death itself... On some evenings, it seemed like senseless suffering, and I was ready to give up. But during those 12 years of work, I always forced myself to stare relentlessly into the black sun of the Shoah.

— Claude LanzmannDescribing the immense challenges and emotional toll of creating the documentary 'Shoah.'

Ribot's film functions as a cinematic road trip, tracing Lanzmann's steps across Germany, Poland, Israel, and the United States as he grappled with the immense task of documenting the Holocaust. Lanzmann himself described the process as a "long and difficult battle," where he felt he had "nothingness" to work with, and the subject was "death itself." He confessed to moments of despair, ready to give up, but was driven by a need to "stare relentlessly into the black sun of the Shoah."

Not one American dollar funded Shoah, because it focused so relentlessly on death, with no upbeat messages about righteous gentiles or narrow escapes.

— Claude LanzmannExplaining the difficulties in securing funding for the film.

Funding for 'Shoah' proved to be a significant hurdle, with Lanzmann noting that "not one American dollar funded 'Shoah.'" He attributed this to the film's unvarnished portrayal of death, devoid of any optimistic narratives about survivors or narrow escapes. Lanzmann candidly admitted, "I was a lousy fundraiser," highlighting the financial struggles that accompanied his artistic vision. For those deeply affected by 'Shoah,' this documentary promises a compelling and intimate look at the creation of a cinematic masterpiece.

I was a lousy fundraiser.

— Claude LanzmannAdmitting to the financial struggles during the production of 'Shoah.'
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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