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Night And Fog AKA Nuit Et Brouillard
R0 - America - Criterion Collection Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (26th April 2004). |
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The Film
 This French documentary set ten years after the defeat of the Nazi's and the end of concentration camps filmmaker Alain Resnais armed with a camera crew found the remains of these camps and documented the grounds of both Auschwitz and Majdanek as a reflection of the terror and inhumanity that occurred there. Resnais' purpose was to tell the truth about life in these camps, choosing to narrate the experience and juxtapose that narration with stark images of the abandoned and desolate remnants of these once where camps. In just 31 minutes, the impact of Resnais' film is unmistakable. Edited amongst the camp grounds footage are segments of the Nazi footage showing the result of their dehumanisation of the prisoners, large masses of cut human hair, used to make rope for the army, room full of personal items, thousands of shoes and glasses etc. The description of these images may not seem shocking but believe me viewing the footage in the context of the narration raises disturbing images within one's own mind. That's where this documentary succeeds where many fail. Resnais' film sometimes feels less like a documentary and more like an eyewitness account. The crimes have already been committed, it does not point the finger it is on all accounts unbiased. Resnais simply lays it out for the record what happened and challenges those who watch this film to search within their own humanity and to learn from the mistakes of the past. This is powerful filmmaking that challenges our hearts and minds by presenting an objective picture of the events that occurred in these camps. This is one of the most, if not important documents made on this subject.
Video
Presented in the film's original full frame ratio this 1.33:1 transfer has been given one hell of a work over by The Criterion Collection. Their booklet states that "This new high-definition digital transfer was created on a spirit datacine from 35mm interpositives. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris and scratches were removed using the MTI digital restoration system." And the evidence is shown on this great disc, one of the best restoration jobs the Criterion Collection has done.
Audio
This DVD offers the film in its original French language in mono. Like the transfer the audio was also given a clean-up, the original 35mm optical positive soundtrack was mastered in 24-bit and was restored utilising tools that helped reduce clicks, pops, hiss and crackle. Although not the best sound result, it could be clearer but for a 49 year-old film I'm not going to complain since this is probably the best condition the sound has ever been in. This DVD also includes a mono track in Spanish as well and includes removable English subtitles that are clear and easy to read.
Extras
This DVD doesn't have a lot of extras, in fact for a DVD under the Criterion banner the extras a very light, however what we do get is some good stuff none the less. First up is an isolated score and effects track, that presents Hanns Eisler music here unhindered by narration, a nice touch since some of the film's emotional impact derives from Eisler's wonderful music. The second extras is an audio interview from "Les Etoiles Du Cinema" in 1994 with the director Alain Resnais, in this interview in French with English subtitles Resnais explains the problems he encountered getting a film a distribution permit to show the film publicly, Resnais makes comments on how one image of a French policeman hindered the film's prospects for release. Although short, this is a very insightful interview. The liner notes also include three essays one by essayist and novelist Phillip Lopate, who writes about the impact and power of this film, a second essay by Author Peter Cowie writes of the film's showing at Cannes along with crew profiles and the final essay by author Russell Lack who writes about Hanns Eisler's musical score. After viewing the film and it's extras I still felt like wanting more, a commentary would have been nice, overall not the best selection of supplements but something is still better than nothing.
Overall
In the liner notes essay it is quotes that Francois Troffat says that Night and Fog was "The greatest film ever made" This is certainly an important and powerful documentary that displays the facts in an objective fashion. The Criterion Collection has presented the film wonderfully in a newly restored DVD with some informative extras as well, Resnais' film is highly recommended.
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