Film Education -

Ways to use film

The aim, therefore, is to view historical films as documents to begin an investigation into the study of the Holocaust. If we look at how the film itself works, as well as examining how it purports to tell us about the events of the Holocaust, the result can be a rewarding and thought-provoking journey.  A film can capture a feeling of a historical period; it can create an atmosphere and a picture of the past that perhaps, with further historical research and examination of other contemporary art forms, can make that world come to life.

Central to teaching about the Holocaust should be survivor testimony.  When exploring the ideas represented in Holocaust films, the use of reliable survivor testimony is crucial to reposition the filmic interpretation alongside a personal story of survival.  Produced by the Holocaust Educational Trust and the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation in conjunction with Film Education, Recollections: Eyewitnesses Remember the Holocaust is a BAFTA award winning teaching resource featuring testimonies from Holocaust survivors, liberators, rescuers and aid givers.  If your school does not already possess this resource, please contact the Holocaust Educational Trust www.het.org.uk for a complimentary copy.