19th October, 1965, soon following the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial – a historical event where Germans were tried by fellow Germans for the atrocities of the Holocaust – Peter Weiss introduced his play “The Investigation“. This play was based on actual court transcripts from SS officers, Nazi officials, and camp survivors. The aim was to painstakingly recreate the gruesome reality of the genocide in a way that left no room for doubt.
Leaving out scenes of the actual camp, “The Investigation” instead uses testimonies from both the wrongdoers and their victims to expose in stark terms the most heinous atrocity of the 20th century.
Or simply:
“The Investigation” focuses on the accounts of the perpetrators and victims rather than scenes of the camp, revealing the horrific truth about the worst crime of the 20th century.
On January 27, 2025, exactly 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army, a film adaptation of The Investigation will make its debut in Israel. RP Kahl’s accurate four-hour portrayal will be shown at the Cinematheque Tel Aviv on Monday and at the Cinematheque Jerusalem on Tuesday, January 28th.
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On January 27, 2025, marking 80 years since Auschwitz’s liberation by the Red Army, a film adaptation of The Investigation will be unveiled in Israel for the first time. RP Kahl’s detailed four-hour retelling will be presented at the Cinematheque Tel Aviv on Monday and at the Cinematheque Jerusalem on Tuesday, January 28th.
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In Israel, a film adaptation of The Investigation, created by RP Kahl with faithful accuracy over four hours, will have its premiere on January 27, 2025 – exactly 80 years after Auschwitz’s liberation by the Red Army. The debut screenings will take place at the Cinematheque Tel Aviv on Monday and at the Cinematheque Jerusalem on Tuesday, January 28th.
or
On January 27, 2025 – 80 years after Auschwitz’s liberation by the Red Army – a film adaptation of The Investigation will be launched in Israel. This four-hour rendition by RP Kahl will be shown at the Cinematheque Tel Aviv on Monday and at the Cinematheque Jerusalem on Tuesday, January 28th.
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The Israeli premiere of a film adaptation of The Investigation, based on a four-hour-long recreation by RP Kahl, will occur on January 27, 2025 – the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation by the Red Army. The debut screenings will happen at the Cinematheque Tel Aviv on Monday and at the Cinematheque Jerusalem on Tuesday, January 28th.
Alexander van Dülmen, the producer of ‘The Investigation’, expresses that screening the movie in Israel, specifically Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, holds significant importance for them. He believes that the film’s timeless qualities and educational impact make it a distinctive addition to Holocaust remembrance efforts on a global scale.
Dülmen, who has worked on films such as Cloud Atlas, Madame Bovary, and Run Boy Run, decided to adapt The Investigation after re-reading the play during the COVID-19 pandemic. He realized that “there are now almost no living witnesses [to the Holocaust]. One of my personal concerns is the tendency, particularly in Germany, to focus too much in films on the perpetrators, not the victims, like in Downfall or the recent Wannsee Conference adaptation. The craftsmanship in these films is exceptional, but the emphasis often falls on the motivations of the perpetrators. [The Investigation] exposes the atrocities committed by the Nazis. There’s no need to explore whether this man’s mother was evil or this one’s father abusive; these were merely criminals, murderers.
The surge of right-wing extremism, particularly evident in Germany with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gaining significant popularity, lends a contemporary significance to “The Investigation“. However, according to director RP Kahl, current politics was not a primary concern during his creative process.
Anti-Semitism has been an ongoing issue throughout history, and although it may seem more startling in today’s world, the battle between progressive societies and the tyranny symbolized by Auschwitz remains ever relevant.
According to von Dülmen, remembering our past and educating ourselves are essential in fighting against anti-Semitism and racism. However, this film focuses on personal moral decisions, not just historical ones, but also those we face today. The character in the play often questions, “Why did you choose this path?” This question, von Dülmen suggests, is relevant to many areas of life, not just politics. For him, the movie isn’t so much about using history to combat modern far-right groups as it is about safeguarding what we’ve achieved over the past 80 years: democracy, freedom, and human rights.
For those who expect a highly emotional portrayal of camp atrocities, The Investigation might be unexpectedly stark. Kahl mirrors Weiss’s theatrical style in the film, eliminating dramatic storytelling and overt emotion from the performances – even those of Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones), Karl Markovics (The Counterfeiters) and Christiane Paul (In July) as prosecution witnesses – to allow the raw facts to resonate on their own.
According to Kahl, flooding people with emotions alone about a topic like the Holocaust might hinder critical thought. While emotional connection is crucial, it should be coupled with intellectual insight. Merely feeling sad or sympathetic doesn’t bring about change. Instead, people need to comprehend the underlying systems that facilitated Auschwitz: The totalitarian structure, the fear, the degradation of humanity, and the encouragement of self-interest. By actively engaging in this way, they can achieve a more profound understanding and introspection.
For the first time ever, the movie titled “The Investigation“, which was screened in cinemas last year, is being made available today in Germany on all home entertainment platforms such as pay-TV network Sky, French-German public broadcaster ARTE, regional networks BR and WDR, and local distributor Leonine is also starting its physical DVD sales. The international festival premiere of “The Investigation” will take place in Rotterdam later this week.
As an avid admirer, I’m thrilled to share that ARD, one of the key supporters of this remarkable film, has ingeniously transformed it into a serial format. Originally a four-hour movie, it’s now divided into eleven captivating segments, making it more convenient for television and streaming platforms. After its successful Israeli debut, The Investigation is eager to grace Jewish film festivals globally. The ultimate goal? Securing a U.S. streaming platform for this engaging serial format.
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2025-01-27 14:55