An Impossible Job: ILX's 40 Favorite Documentaries

On Lanzmann and Shoah. Was watching it last night on TV, 2nd part next week.

The 30 min sequence in the Polish village is probably the best evidence of his skills, the way he could charm anyone into talking about themselves and ultimately their prejudices. There was certainly evidence of his -- not bullying -- but you could tell he was a prick. When he tells off the translator "I heard the word 'Capital' why haven't you translated?" when its a pretty tough interview of up to four women talking. Didn't think much of it at the time -- you could argue that these things happen on tough shoots -- but then you read his vile quote on female translators. There was certanly nothing they could do, even if they were half-cheering the 'extraction' of jews but its weird that Lanzmann doesn't think this could've happened in France when anti-semitism and racism are to be found in France (Sorrow and the Pity hello?)

Ultimately not too sure about the impact of re-enactments, and the camera focusing on any tear is pretty much pornography (nearly switched off after an hour) but there is so much powerful testimony, even if the methods by which he obtained some of it are questionable.

I just saw Nicolas Philibert's "Louvre City" and LOVED IT SO MUCH! It was so observational and cinema verite in its very direct presentation of its subject matter and lack of overall narrative and yet it had so much cinematographic flourish, like really well conceived tracking shots and close-ups and thoughtful editing and it was so pretty and art-filmy and contemplative and just fun to watch and lull about in. This guy is so fucking great. I remember really liking Etre et Avoir but not like this.

Just finished The Battle of Chile for the first time. Not in one sitting. I found the structure somewhat odd--it's in three parts, and the third part doubles back and covers some of the same ground as the first part, though from a different angle; 10 minutes in, I was worried I'd accidentally watched the discs out of order--but an often hypnotic cascade of words, almost always from one person speechifying as others look on and listen. Hope to see it again in a theatre one day; really impressive.

I found the lead girl in Seventeen exceedingly annoying, so that interfered with all that was good about it. Great freeze-frame ending.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwX1Y-BGR58

the NYC Quad is having a Claude Lanzmann retro... anyone ever seen his first feature, Israel, Why (1973)? The only iMdB-linked reviews are in German.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069115/fullcredits/

https://quadcinema.com/film/israel-why/