Antisemitism Studies

Abstract:

This article examines the films of Claude Lanzmann, especially those dealing with the Holocaust, antisemitism, and the growing hatred of Israel. Focus is placed on his 1973 film Israel, Why, which documents the creation of the Jewish state, his 1985 magnum opus Shoah, and the 1994 documentary Tsahal that analyzed the contradictions and complications of Israeli society. The article views Lanzmann’s work as a kaleidoscopic prism that helps us understand the meaning and impact of the Holocaust. His films also address questions about the ethics of art and its contract with the audience, as well as its role in processing, shaping, and preserving human memory.