You are here:

Auschwitz

Name: Auschwitz
Director: James Moll
Released: 2015
Duration: 15 min

Representation Score

7.7/10

Good

2015

Director

James Moll

Runtime

15 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

James Moll’s documentary offers a sophisticated examination of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex, highlighting the multi-layered nature of the victims. Utilizing archival imagery and survivor testimonies, the film provides a nuanced look at how state institutions were weaponized against various ethnic and physical identities. However, it remains limited in its scope regarding specific identity politics, prioritizing the mechanics of systemic genocide over contemporary social frameworks. Ultimately, the work succeeds as a historical record that prevents the erasure of underrepresented groups, even as it overlooks specific queer narratives and non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth experiences.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Auschwitz have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not explicitly include LGBTQ+ identities, focusing instead on other primary victim groups during the Holocaust.

How does Auschwitz portray gender?

Fair

The documentary captures the gendered aspects of the camp experience by highlighting the hardships faced by female prisoners. However, it does not challenge traditional gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Auschwitz?

Excellent

The film provides a complex view of the victims by including the experiences of Roma and Sinti populations alongside Jewish victims.

How does Auschwitz represent religion and culture?

Good

The documentary critiques extreme nationalism and the breakdown of Western morality and religious freedoms under totalitarianism.

Does Auschwitz include disability representation?

Good

The film documents the systematic targeting of people with physical and mental disabilities, ensuring these populations are not erased from history.

Present on Screen

Provides a complex, multi-layered view of victimhood by including Roma and Sinti populations.
Ensures the experiences of individuals with physical and mental disabilities are documented.
Highlights the specific hardships faced by female prisoners.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit visibility or focus on LGBTQ+ identities and queer narratives.
Does not actively work to challenge traditional gender hierarchies within the narrative.

Official Synopsis

Auschwitz is synonymous with the Holocaust, but it’s also a place on the map with a surprising history preceding World War II. Narrated by Meryl Streep, this short documentary tells the story of Auschwitz, from its construction to its infamy.

How are these scores produced? →