Night Will Fall

'Night Will Fall' was the second film I managed to see during my weekend at Sheffield DocFest. I attended the screening not only as a producer of a film similar in themes but also, as a regional ambassador for the holocaust educational trust with an interest in learning more about the aftermath of the holocaust.

Co-produced by Angel TV, Spring films and Israel's Cinephil, the film boasts a story that seems completely unfathomable to me, in that, not only are there horrific images and archive reels reflecting an atrocity you cannot begin to comprehend, but that the footage in existence was all part of a documentary film that was tragically never broadcast.

The proof that the holocaust happened, the horrific nature of the treatment of so many millions, was hidden away from the TV screens of the public, in an attempt (according to director Andre Singer) to repair relations with Germany as the allies prepared to fight the Russians against communism. At least, it was until now:

'40 years later an American researcher found a rusty can marked 'F3080' in the vaults of London's Imperial War Museum. It was in very poor condition and the last roll was missing, but in 1985 a scratched and blurry copy was shown on PBS in America. Now, after three years of work by Dr Toby Haggith of the IWM, the entire film has now been fully restored and piece by piece, frame by frame, the lost last reel has been put together from the original shot lists. for the first time in history, the completed 'F3080' is ready to be shown.' Spring Films

The film is brilliantly put together, with some original and insightful archive reels showing Bernstein and his team cutting the film that was originally supposed to be shown to the German public after WW2. We see vivid and devastating images from the camps showing a number of victims you cannot put an exact number on. From the film, we gather quite quickly that Bernstein's film was unlike any of the usual propaganda films and instead carried a moral message that Bernstein wanted his audience to learn from. He writes 'We who live, will learn' and yet, unfortunately until recently, his message lay buried along with the unfinished film.

Another addition to the narrative of 'Night Will Fall' is the revelation that not only was this a film that could have changed our perception of the holocaust in the immediate aftermath of the atrocity, but that it was the only factual film that ever had a brief encounter with the one and only Alfred Hitchcock.

As I admitted in the Q&A, I have seen many of the clips of archive reels shown in the film, many times before. Until now, I never knew that they were all in fact a part of Bernstein's film. What 'Night Will Fall' did differently from other films I've seen the footage within, was enhance the footage to the point where you could see the whites of the victims eyes and work out every part of the image you were witnessing. It didn't matter how many times I'd seen the footage before, it had always been blurred, or graining. this time there was no shying away from the vivid images before us, which is something I've felt has always been necessary if we wish to even attempt to reflect upon the horror that was revealed to the world upon liberation.

Night Will Fall explores some touching recollections from elderly survivors, allied troops and cameramen, some of which are as difficult to watch as the archive footage itself. It is clear to see that the ghosts they came across at Bergen-Belsen and similar camps, are ghosts that have haunted them ever since. It added both to the humanity of the production, which had Bernstein's values at its core. It was clear that both Andre and Producer Sally Angel, had both taken on that value in their portrayal of the events within the film. Of course, without these men, there would be no images of the camps at all.

Another value championed, are the politics that surrounded the discovery of the camps. To-ing and fro-ing, this way and that. The film's going ahead, the British are taking too long, it's not going ahead....Andre did a fantastic job of portraying the strain upon Bernstein's team, as well as the steadfast nature of their dedication in not leaving the job incomplete. Testament also to the team's expertise, was the fantastic casting of survivor contributors that actually personally feature within the reels filmed by army cameraman on liberation.

'Night Will Fall' comes in good time, with the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belsen in April next year. With backing from Channel 8 and with a reputable team behind the camera, there is no doubt in my mind that it won't be picked up and broadcast within the next year. I can't wait to share the film with the other ambassadors of the Holocaust Educational Trust and with my family who have, until now, only heard of the vivid imagery I'd seen at holocaust research centre, Yad Vashem, Israel. This film shows it all and does not hold back from horror - for the right reasons - not to shock but to give Bernstein's film the showing it deserves - for us to take heed of his words, to live, and to learn.

'Night Will Fall' is still available to watch by all delegates via the videotheque platform. Log in here: http://videotheque.sheffdocfest.com

I look forward to seeing it on our TV screens in the near future.

The 53minute version of Bernstein's film 'Memory in the Camps' can be seen here:

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES

For information my own documentary film 'After Auschwitz' which similarly is available for delegates and decision makers via the Sheffield videotheque platform:
Please visit http://www.katmace.co.uk/ReadMyBlog/after-auschwitz/
Or read this post http://watchinabitotheatrenstuff.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/after-auschwitz-at-sheffield-docfest.html