Hello, I’m Salik Waquas, a colorist and filmmaker, deeply invested in the visual storytelling process. I own a post-production color grading suite where I work on bringing cinematic visions to life. My journey from a mechanical engineering background to film color grading has been fueled by a passion for how color, light, and composition influence narrative. With this article, I delve into the cinematography of Shoah, a monumental film by Claude Lanzmann that does more than document history—it confronts viewers with the emotional and psychological weight of the Holocaust. My analysis offers insights into how Lanzmann and his team used cinematography to create a raw, unfiltered portrayal of memory and trauma.
CINEMATOGRAPHY ANALYSIS OF SHOAH
About the Cinematographer
Claude Lanzmann, the director of Shoah, brought a unique perspective to this profound project. More than just a filmmaker, Lanzmann was a philosopher, a Holocaust witness, and a relentless seeker of truth. His personal history—having joined the French Resistance as a teenager, fighting alongside his Jewish family—imbues Shoah with an authenticity and urgency that transcends conventional documentary approaches.
Collaborating with cinematographers like William Lubtchansky, Dominique Chapuis, Jimmy Glasberg, Phil Gries on this film, Lanzmann created history. He crafted a visual language that focused on unembellished human testimonies rather than dramatizations or re-enactments. The absence of archival footage is striking; it allows the film to dwell in the present, with each frame bearing the weight of historical memory and personal grief. This approach underscores Lanzmann’s dedication to preserving history as it was experienced by those who survived, witnessed, or even perpetrated the Holocaust.
Inspiration for the Cinematography of Shoah
Lanzmann’s approach to cinematography in Shoah reflects his goal to build a “monument against forgetting.” The visual language is heavily influenced by his desire to make history immediate and personal for viewers.
By using only contemporary footage, Lanzmann draws viewers into a confrontation with the Holocaust’s lingering trauma, visible in the modern landscapes of former camps and villages. Lanzmann’s refusal to use archival footage compels us to engage directly with the present-day remnants of the past, allowing the horrific history to seep through the seemingly mundane. His own experiences influenced this approach, as he recognized that recounting the Holocaust required a solemn, respectful, and straightforward style, one that avoided sensationalism and instead focused on the painful silence that still surrounds these sites and testimonies.
Camera Movements Used in Shoah
The camera movements in Shoah are deliberate, restrained, and often haunting in their stillness. Lanzmann predominantly uses static shots and slow pans, techniques that contribute to a meditative viewing experience. The slow, almost cautious movement of the camera during scenes of Holocaust sites allows viewers to absorb each painful detail fully. Lanzmann’s camera does not intrude; it watches, bearing witness rather than interpreting. For interviews with Nazi collaborators, he employs hidden cameras, producing footage that feels raw and unfiltered, adding layers of secrecy and discomfort. This restrained movement accentuates the intensity of each testimony, giving viewers time to sit with the weight of the words spoken, unbroken by distracting shifts in perspective.
Compositions in Shoah
Lanzmann’s compositions in Shoah are minimalist yet powerfully evocative. Subjects are often framed at center, with sparse, simple backgrounds that focus all attention on their expressions. This framing, coupled with medium to close-up shots, captures every nuance in the interviewees’ faces—the tears, hesitations, and, sometimes, the numbness.
Lanzmann’s framing emphasizes isolation, with wide shots of Holocaust sites that evoke desolation and emptiness, reinforcing the emotional weight carried by these locations. The simplicity of these compositions serves a dual purpose: it respects the dignity of the subjects while communicating the timeless and undying nature of their trauma. Each frame feels like a still-life painting, inviting contemplation and underscoring Shoah’s status as a solemn historical document.
Lighting Style of Shoah
The lighting in Shoah is naturalistic and bare, enhancing the film’s stark realism. Lanzmann frequently uses available light to illuminate survivors, producing an honest, unfiltered look. The lighting is soft but straightforward, creating an effect that allows viewers to connect with the interviewees without distraction.
The dim lighting in interviews with former Nazis adds an undertone of moral ambiguity, subtly conveying the darkness of their actions. This naturalistic lighting style emphasizes the film’s documentary essence, grounding it in reality rather than artistry. The simplicity and sincerity of the lighting choices reflect Lanzmann’s commitment to authenticity, allowing each person’s testimony to shine without interference from cinematic techniques.
Lensing and Blocking of Shoah
In Shoah, Lanzmann’s lens choices are subtle but intentional, aligning with his goal to maintain a respectful distance while remaining close enough to capture the intensity of his subjects’ emotions. Lanzmann avoids wide-angle lenses, opting instead for standard lenses that allow for an intimate but non-intrusive view.
His blocking choices are similarly careful, positioning subjects at eye level to enable a more comfortable and open recounting of their stories. This restrained lensing and blocking style reflects Lanzmann’s sensitivity and respect for his interviewees, particularly the survivors, who often struggle with the weight of their memories. By framing them at a distance that respects their space while allowing viewers to feel present, Lanzmann achieves a balance that emphasizes human dignity in the face of unspeakable horror.
Color of Shoah
The color palette of Shoah is muted and understated, using subdued blues, grays, and earthy tones that mirror the heavy subject matter. Lanzmann avoids vibrant colors, choosing instead to work with a natural, unenhanced palette that aligns with the film’s reverent tone. This lack of color manipulation reflects the timeless and enduring quality of these stories, which remain vivid in memory without the need for embellishment.
By employing this restrained color scheme, Lanzmann reinforces the film’s meditative atmosphere, encouraging viewers to focus on the stories and emotions rather than being swayed by visual aesthetics. The natural hues of the locations, captured in their decayed, worn state, convey a somber beauty that speaks to the passage of time and the resilience of memory.
Technical Aspects: Camera, Lenses, and More
The technical choices in Shoah further contribute to its stark and unembellished aesthetic. The film was shot primarily on 16mm film, giving the footage a gritty texture that complements its documentary style. The 16mm film’s grain adds a raw, archival quality to the imagery, bridging past and present while grounding the viewer in the current moment. The mid-range focal lenses used allow for balanced framing without imposing a stylized look, ensuring that the visual language remains straightforward and honest. These technical decisions reinforce Shoah’s commitment to authenticity, capturing the stories with a timeless, unfiltered quality that respects both the subjects and the gravity of their experiences.
Conclusion
In Shoah, Claude Lanzmann crafted a visual language that transcends traditional documentary techniques, bringing viewers face-to-face with history through unfiltered storytelling. His choices in cinematography, from the use of natural lighting and muted colors to restrained camera movements, reflect a deep respect for his subjects and their stories.
By capturing the present-day landscapes of Holocaust sites and focusing solely on testimonies, Lanzmann creates a sense of immediacy that is both harrowing and reflective. As a filmmaker, I find Lanzmann’s approach inspiring; his dedication to truth and humanity in the face of horror is a testament to the power of visual storytelling. Shoah is not just a documentary—it’s a profound meditation on memory, trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit, and it stands as a cinematic monument to history that will endure for generations.