LAST OF THE UNJUST, THE DVD

I study the Holocaust and learn from everything I read and watch about the Holocaust - It is a life long study for me. I watched this somewhat long docu (3:38) over several sessions - it is in subtitle - and made notes of so many things to look up. I haven't really read a lot about Therienstadt but knew it was the German version of a model camp. Though I could not understand Murmelstein in his native language, one could tell that he seemed, at times, to be coming from a defensive position. His explanations for his actions made sense as he explained them but I could also see how, at the time and in that time frame, they were taken otherwise. I plan on re-watching the docu more than once - quite comprehensive in it's history of this "model" camp and this figure in history.

Overall I found this to be a disappointing documentary. Based on the title, and the introductory film verbiage, Mumelstein was to be the focus of this film. He was interviewed for days. Yet Mumelstein was not on the screen for even half of this movie. Lanzmann devoted far too much time talking about Eichmann, background for Theresienstadt, and other matters. Oh, and also having himself front and center reading scripts, rather than just using interview clips from the only man who matters to this documentary. As another reviewer mentioned, Lanzmann's interviewing here is atrocious. He is much more hard hitting with the Poles, Germans, and Red Cross worker he interviews in Shoah. I know the rap on Mumelstein from reading history elsewhere.. At the end of this film, I would be dumbfounded as to Mumelstein's actual roles and the claims against him. I'm really not sure why Lanzmann felt he had to make this movie.

Gripping documentary. A great supplement to Shoah. Lanzmann's interviews of Benjamin Murmelstein are riveting. Murmelstein is "wily," but Lanzmann doesn't let him wriggle out of answering important questions about his actions while serving as the Last Elder of the Jews. I was fascinated by the film's juxtaposition of Claude Lanzmann, circa 1970s, and Lanzmann as a much older man, still reflecting on the fate of the Theresienstadt Jews. The film is a hauntingly beautiful memorial.

Very interesting perspective of the holocaust and not overly dramatized. That is not to say that it wasn't deeply affecting to the viewer. The story narrative by Murmelstein was riveting and quietly horrifying. Murmelstein had a lot to say and was very thoughtful about his role in the camp, unapologetic at times, but effective in his narration.

I love Claude Lanzman's work. This is good and worth watching but its not Shoah.

If you have seen Shoah and have a deeper interest in the Holocaust, I highly recommend investing the four hours of your time one afternoon and watching it. I did not find it slow moving but perhaps this is because I find the subject matter so interesting.

This was filmed in '75 and thank heavens someone decided to release it to the public. Fascinating story of an Elder Rabbi and his story of being the Jewish leader in a concentration camp. Again, it blows my mind of man's inhumanity to man.

Ok

boring film

Great

This documentary is totally unbalanced. No verification of the interviewee's statement by other sources.This documentary gives documentaries a bad name.