Common Sense Media Review
By Sabrina McFarland
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Holocaust narratives share sorrow of the era in epic docu.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Shoah
What's the Story?
SHOAH is a nearly 10-hour documentary from French filmmaker Claude Lanzmann. Originally released in 1985, it features interviews with Holocaust survivors and others who share their personal stories about the murder and persecution of Jewish people by the Nazis.
Is It Any Good?
Lanzmann, who is also a journalist, uses solid interviewing skills to reveal unspeakable Holocaust memories through first-person testimonies. "Every day, we saw thousands and thousands of innocent people disappear up the chimney," reveals Shoah's Filip Müller, a Slovak Jew and survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. "There they came, men, women, children, all innocent. They suddenly vanished, and the world said nothing! We felt abandoned. By the world, by humanity." Shoah remains today an essential film to educate about the history of the Holocaust and the issue of intolerance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the courage of the Holocaust survivors. How do they also demonstrate communication, perseverance, and teamwork?
Why is there hatred of the Jewish people by the Nazis? What is the policy known as the "Final Solution" used against Jewish people?
What impact did the Holocaust have on the world? Why should the Holocaust be remembered today?
What may be the reasons for the increase of anti-Semitism in society now?
How can learning about the history of intolerance from the past help in the present?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 23, 1985
- On DVD or streaming : March 2, 2021
- Cast : Abraham Bomba , Raul Hilberg , Filip Müller
- Director : Claude Lanzmann
- Studio : IFC Films
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 565 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : BAFTA - BAFTA Winner
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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