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DramaComedyDocumentaryAnimationExperimentalMusic
The Holocaust Tourist
Jes Benstock
average rating from 42 members 
       
documentary | 2005 | London | 10 min
Published 10 May 06
A whistle-stop tour from hot dogs in Auschwitz to Jewish kitsch in Krakow - is tourism changing our view of history?
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synopsis
A wry documentary about Holocaust tourism in post -Schindler's List Poland. Filmmaker Jes Benstock encounters a range of characters involved in the tourist industry and uses animation to help uncover the way tourism and tourists are changing the way we understand the difficult past.
short fact
"I wanted to make something which would help people understand the complexity of what is happening to the memory of the Holocaust. I believe it's happening to every human tragedy in living memory - the "heritage" style repackaging of history. The biggest challenge was to condense this huge subject into 10 minutes."
crew
  • director Jes Benstock
  • producer leslie hills
  • editor graeme kennedy
  • director of photography maxim ford
  • sound neil herd
  • music josh horowitz / stuart brotman
  • animation Andrew Savage
  • additional photography Pawel Stec
  • still photography Rebecca Najdowski
  • cast
    • Jonathan Webber
    • Miroslaw Obstarczyk
    • Emmanuel Elbinger
    • Wande Hutny
    • Chris Schwarz
    • Zespol Szkol Nr1 Oswiecim
    festivals, awards and screenings include:
  • UK Jewish Film Festival on tour
  • Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival
  • Halloween Film Festival
  • Directors Lounge Berlin
  • True/False Columbia
  • Punk Purim
  • Somewhere Else Manchester
  • Jewishfilm.2006 USA
  • format
    other
    budget
    £16,000
    © 2005 Jes Benstock

    comments

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    comment by Charlie  Phillips
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    posted May 25, 2007

    Typically brilliant from Jes, touching the subjects of unpalatable issues in the Jewish world that no-one else will touch!

    comment by rudiroo
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    posted Mar 23, 2007

    Utterly brilliant - should be shown on BBC 1 or 2, preferably not during the graveyard shift.

    comment by darren  atkins
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    posted Jan 17, 2007

    sadly ten minutes is not long enough on this subject,but it was ten minutes worth watching.

    comment by Bobbie  Fitts
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    posted Oct 31, 2006

    This goes for it, and why not. the idea of holocaust tourists is just crazy. i love the scene where the real survivors are left in the cold. doesnt that say it all about how history bends events out of shape. I hope jes does another one. making two excellent films in a row (orders of love) shows a real talent in the making.

    comment by James  Rattee
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    posted Jul 4, 2006

    A really thought provoking film that took on a complex issue without drawing simplified and biased conclusions. I think that the film accurately shows how parts of this awful event have become ‘Hollywood’ packages and the danger this presents.

    Most importantly, though, the sickening facts of genocide, fascism and human suffering need to be remembered and using (in a limited and sensitive manner) commercial tools to attract people to these places, and therefore these issues, may be necessary.

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    other films by this director
    Orders Of Love
    documentary
    useful links
    • www.benstock.co.uk
    • www.ukjewishfilmfestival.org.uk
    • www.onedotzero.com
    • listing on britfilms.com
    funded by
    UK Jewish Film Festival Short Film Fund

    selected by
    This film was chosen by onedotzero and is part of their onedotzero_10 fesitval selection
    more shorts with similar themes

    This film is included in the film catalogue under the following themes:

    • Crossing Borders
    • Reflections
    related features
    Jes Benstock
    Jes Benstock interview
    Watch the Holocaust Tourist director on his documentary style.
    onedotzero submissions

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