Review

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of both the conclusion of World War II and the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Commemorating this historical milestone, a restored version of Claude Lanzmann's Shoah (1985, 556 minutes) was recently screened at Berlinale. This landmark documentary, which first premiered in Berlinale's Forum section four decades ago, was meticulously crafted by the director over the course of 12 years, documenting Holocaust survivors' testimonies. These personal accounts range from deeply intimate reflections to vast perspectives, faithfully preserving some of humanity's darkest moments. The film continues to serve as both evidence of and warning about the depths of human cruelty. Shoah returns to the audience with the power of film and testimony, not only reminding us to examine our past but also to question our present circumstances. Had Lanzmann (1925-2018) lived to see this anniversary, he would have turned 100 this year. His immortal masterpiece once again validates George Santayana's words: "People who forget their history are condemned to repeat it."
All I Had Was Nothingness (2025), the documentary on Shoah, will also be screened in Cinephile JEONJU. (Sung MOON)

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