Claude Lanzmann dies

Shoah director was 92

by Amber Wilkinson

Claude Lanzmann pictured at the New York Film Festival
Claude Lanzmann pictured at the New York Film Festival Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Shoah director Claude Lanzmann has died in Paris, aged 92.

The French director was best known for his benchmark documentary on the Holocaust, which runs at more than nine hours and features extensive testimonies from those who spent time in the Nazi death camps. The film took more than 12 years to make and Lanzmann reflected on the process in 2015 documentary Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah.

The director also revisited the Holocaust in his 2013 documentary The Last Of The Unjust, about the last Jewish elder of Theresienstadt. "When I saw the rushes, I decided that I was the only one able to do it," he told us, saying that is what gave him the strength to complete it.

In 2015 he was the subject of Adam Benzine's documentary Claude Lanzmann: Spectres Of The Shoah.

His final film, Napalm, was completed last year.

Share this with others on...
News

The serpent's call Composer Stephen Lukach on creating tension and awe in Beware Boiúna

Care and community Mike Leigh and the Tender Loving Care cast on humanity and looking out for one another

The aftermath Jorge Thielen Armand on returning to Venezuela to make Death Has No Master

Making magic Gregg Bishop on witches, inspiring actors, instinctive filmmaking and The Heretiks

The road to The Guests Cristina Diz and Stefan Butzmühlen on working together on their latest film

Beyond Saturn Tina Gharavi, Tala Calil and Assaad Bouab on Shadows Of Beirut

Puppy love Brad Pitt on the 'moving' Heart Of The Beast shoot thanks to furry co-star Odin

More news and features

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


San Sebastian Golden night for Tender Loving Care


Toronto La Bola Negra wins People's Choice award


San Sebastian Naomi Watts dedicates Donostia Award to Lynch


San Sebastian Werner Herzog honoured


Dinard Full programme announced


LFF Full programme announced