Claude Lanzmann: The Recordings

To mark the centenary of the birth of Claude Lanzmann (1925–2018) – the acclaimed French journalist, filmmaker and chronicler of the Shoah – the Jewish Museum Berlin presents an exhibition that makes history audible. For the first time ever, the audio archive of Lanzmann’s world-renowned documentary film Shoah (1985) will be made accessible to the public.

The Lanzmann Collection includes 152 previously unknown audio tape cassettes. They document the numerous interviews with survivors, perpetrators and others that Lanzmann and his assistants, Corinna Coulmas and Irena Steinfeldt-Levy, conducted in the 1970s during their years of research before filming began. Both the archive and the film, which made history when it appeared 40 years ago, were designated part of the world’s cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2023.

Shoah is more than just a milestone in film history; it is a poignant, essential testimony to the Holocaust. The Lanzmann Collection offers profound insight into Lanzmann’s working methods and the development of his epoch-making work. These unique audio recordings are the heart of the exhibition, which can be explored through sound, and are complemented by objects, documents, and film footage.

The Jewish Museum Berlin has planned a series of events, a conference and film screenings to accompany the exhibition. All dates can be found in the calendar.