U.S. and the Holocaust
The U.S. and the Holocaust is directed by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick & Sarah Botstein, telescript by Geoffrey C. Ward and produced by Burns, Novick, Botstein & Mike Welt.
Voices of Liam Neeson, Matthew Rhys, Paul Giamatti, Meryl Streep, Werner Herzog, Joe Morton, Hope Davis, Bradley Whitford, Adam Arkin and Helena Zengel
Narrated by Peter Coyote
Country of origin United States
Running time 395 minutes/6 hours 58 minutes (3 episodes)
1 “The Golden Door (Beginnings – 1938)”
2 “Yearning to Breathe Free (1938 – 1942)”
3 “The Homeless, The Tempest-Tossed (1942 – )”
This most recent Ken Burns effort is his most important, one that in my estimation merited a separate opinion essay (available here). For that reason, I won’t dwell on the content here, except to reiterate that in addition to the deep historical importance of this documentary, it offers a terrifying look at the parallels between the rise of Hitler and his fascistic cohorts in Europe and Asia and yes, America, and the rise of similar fascists today: Jair Bolsonaro, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Mihály Orbán, Rodrigo Duterte, Donald John Trump.
The series is done in the same format used in Burns’ other works, dating back to The Civil War series in the early 90s. A variety of voiceovers were used, one for the overarching narration, and others for various historical figures, usually quoting from their writings and speeches. This is augmented by a variety of film clips, radio excerpts, and stills, including two blurry, grainy stills from Auschwitz that are the only photographs taken of the extermination of the prisoners in that horrible place.
Burns pulls no punches in this, either to shield viewers from the sheer horror of events, or the absolute inability of the rest of the world to come to grips with and address what was happening in Europe under Hitler. America was stymied by political cowardice, home-grown nativism, and racism, along with antisemitism. But Burns does make it clear that as lacking and even despicable as American reaction was to the developing genocide, the other allies—Britain, Canada, the lowlands, France—were even worse. Country after country turned away valuable people who committed no crime other than being born to a certain religion or holding legal and sensible political views.
Everyone needs to see this. Burns is always worth watching, and even a series as difficult and emotionally wrenching as this should be shared with everyone, including, yes, children. At a time when the monsters are stirring once again, and freedom and democracy face a new dark age, Burns has called upon us to once again bear witness.