Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted April 11, 2003 I'm not sure if anyone else has seen it, but this 30-minute French film is one of the first documentaries on the Holocaust concentration camps ever made (1955)... Spoiler (Highlight to Read): as well as one of the most gruesome, ending its film with the first graphic depictions of the horrors that occurred at Auschwitz, as actual footage from the Nazis (IIRC) and the American liberators portrays barely human skeletons being piled into huge mass graves and burned. Criterion lists the following special features: New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound Excerpts of audio interviews with Alain Resnais from Le Cinéma des cinéastes (1980) and Les Étoiles du cinéma (1994) New essay about the film by Phillip Lopate Essay about composer Hanns Eisler by Russell Lack Crew profiles written by film historian Peter Cowie Optional music and effects track New and improved English subtitle translation The new transfer and subtitles are most appreciated, as the version I saw had the same problem as many old black and white subtitled films, that you won't be able to read half the subtitles because they blend in with the white backgrounds. The best part? Because the film is so short, the disc will street in June for $15. Bravo! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest godthedog Report post Posted April 11, 2003 i'm intrigued. if they put this on a dvd with 'la jetee' (which is still less than an hour off footage between them), i would be so there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted April 11, 2003 i'm intrigued. if they put this on a dvd with 'la jetee' (which is still less than an hour off footage between them), i would be so there. I've never heard of "La Jetee". Is that another early Holocaust film? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest godthedog Report post Posted April 11, 2003 it's a half-hour film by chris marker (a documentarian who was one of alain resnais's left bank buddies), the only fiction film he ever made. it's told almost entirely in stills and narration, like a slide show. '12 monkeys' is based on it. it's mind-blowing, and on top of that the idea that such a short movie can be so mind-blowing is pretty mind-blowing in itself. it got issued on a really cheap compilation dvd a little while ago, with a dubbed english voice instead of subtitles (which actually works to the movie's credit, since the whole thing is narration). it's a good copy, but...i'd still love it to get the criterion treatment & be placed with something more worthwhile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
