Review of Shoah (1985) by Robin W — 07 Oct 2008
I almost feel unjustified even rating this 9 1/2 hour documentary about the Holocuast because all the remarkable stories shared in this film really need to be told and how they are presented should be irrelevant; however, as amazing an achievement as this film is, it should be noted that it is tough viewing at times, not just because of the strong emotional content, but because of the pacing.
There is not one piece of Holocaust newsreel footage and the film is almost entirely sit-down interviews with survivors and witnesses; there are some portions (particularly near the beginning) when the questions and answers have to be repeated multiple times on camera by a translator, and the lack of editing in these sequences can cause extreme impatience for the viewer.
That said, a lot of the stories told here make for some of the most powerful and emotional sequences ever seen in a documentary, so the film is definitely a must-see; just be prepared to get through the whole thing in multiple sittings.
This review of Shoah (1985) was written by Robin W on 07 Oct 2008.
Shoah has generally received very positive reviews.
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