Filmmaker Adam Benzine is releasing an expanded version of his Oscar-nominated documentary about Claude Lanzmann, the creator of the Holocaust epic Shoah. Titled The Death and Love of Claude Lanzmann, the feature-length director's cut arrives on video-on-demand platforms this Sunday, marking several key anniversaries. It builds on the original 2015 short by adding deeper insights and restored footage.
Overview
Adam Benzine's documentary on Claude Lanzmann, originally released as a 40-minute short in 2015, has long been celebrated for its intimate look at the filmmaker behind Shoah. That version, Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah, earned an Academy Award nomination and multiple international honors, including wins at the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival and Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. Now, a decade later, Benzine unveils a director's cut that transforms it into a full-length feature.
Expanded Content and Restorations
The new edition, The Death and Love of Claude Lanzmann (La mort et l’amour de Claude Lanzmann), delves further into the challenges of producing Shoah. It covers undercover filming of former Nazis, emotional interviews with Holocaust survivors, battles over budget and runtime, and near-fatal risks Lanzmann faced. Benzine incorporates never-before-seen outtakes from the 1970s, digitally restored in HD by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. A restored original title accompanies these additions, addressing viewer requests for more depth.
Significance and Timing
Benzine highlights the film's enduring relevance in a statement: "Claude Lanzmann’s stature and legacy as a filmmaker and historian has only grown." The release coincides with Lanzmann's centennial birth anniversary, the 80th year since World War II's end, and Shoah's 40th release anniversary. Lanzmann, who passed away in 2018 at age 92, shared personal stories in interviews, including his time with writer Simone de Beauvoir from 1952 to 1959. As a French Resistance member during the war, his experiences added authenticity to his confrontations with former SS officers.
Availability and Credits
Viewers can access the film starting Sunday at lanzmannfilm.com and major VOD services. Benzine wrote, produced, and directed, with co-production by Kimberley Warner and executive production by Nick Fraser. The score is by Joel Goodman, editing by Tiffany Beaudin, and cinematography by Alexander Ordanis. International sales are managed by Cinephil, with educational distribution via Film Platform.
