Claude Lanzmann

Claude Lanzmann is a renowned French film director, journalist and writer. He is best known for his nine-and-a-half-hour documentary film, Shoah, which was released in 1985. The film is considered one of the most important documentaries of the twentieth century.

Lanzmann was born in 1925 in Paris, France. His parents were both Jews, and his father was a lawyer. He was raised in an intellectual environment and was exposed to the arts from an early age. He joined the French Resistance during World War II and was an active member of the French Communist Party.

Lanzmann’s directorial career began in the 1950s, when he directed his first short film, Pourquoi Israël (Why Israel). He followed this up with two more short films, Le Miroir (The Mirror) and Des Quatre Cents Coups (The 400 Blows). In 1967, he directed the documentary film Shoah, which explored the Holocaust from the point of view of the survivors. The film took 11 years to make and it was an instant success when it was released.

Lanzmann has since directed numerous other documentaries, most of which focus on political and social issues. These include Tsahal (1995), about the Israel Defense Forces; Sobibor, Octobre 1943, 16 heures (2001), about the Sobibor extermination camp; and The Last of the Unjust (2013), about the Holocaust.

Lanzmann has also written several books, including The Patagonian Hare (1974) and The Kippur War (1974). He has been the recipient of several awards, including the Legion of Honor, the French National Order of Merit, and the Légion d’honneur. He was also the first recipient of the European Film Award for Best Documentary Film in 1987.

Lanzmann’s work has been widely praised for its bravery and insight into some of the darkest periods of human history. His work has been described as “vital and urgent”, and his documentaries have been credited with helping to shape the way that people view the Holocaust.