Unspeakable Histories: Film and the Experience of Catastrophe (Film and Culture Series)

In __Unspeakable Histories__, William Guynn focuses on the sensation of encountering past events through film. Film is capable, he argues, of triggering moments of heightened awareness in which the barrier between the past and the present can fall and the reality of the past we thought lost can be momentarily rediscovered in its material being. In his readings of seven exceptional works depicting twentieth century atrocities, Guynn explores the emotional resonance that still adheres to traumatic historical events. Guynn considers dimensions of experience that historiography leaves untouched. Yaël Hersonski's __A Film Unfinished__ (2010) deconstructs scenes from the Nazi propaganda film __Das Ghetto__ through the testimony of ghetto survivors. Andrzej Wajda's __Katyn__ (2007) revivifies the murder of the Polish officer corps (in which Wajda's father perished) by Stalin's security forces during the Second World War. Andrei Konchalovsky's __Siberiade__ (1979) reimagines the turbulent history of the Soviet Union from the perspective of an isolated Siberian village. Larissa Shepitko's __The Ascent__ (1977) evokes the existential drama Soviet partisans faced during the Nazi occupation. Patricio Guzmán's __Nostalgia for the Light__ (2011) examines the vestiges of human experience, including the scattered remains of Pinochet's victims, alive in the aridity of the Atacama Desert. Rithy Panh's __S-21__ (2003) reawakens events of the Cambodian genocide through dramatic confrontation with some of its executioners, and Joshua Oppenheimer's __The Act of Killing__ (2012) films the perpetrators of the Indonesian genocide as they restage scenes of killings and torture. Inspired by the work of Walter Benjamin, Frank Ankersmit, Joseph Mali, and Simon Schama, Guynn argues that the film medium, more immediate than language, is capable of restoring the affective dimension of historical experience, rooted in the deepest reaches of our minds. In Unspeakable Histories, William Guynn Focuses On The Sensation Of Encountering Past Events Through Film. Film Is Capable, He Argues, Of Triggering Moments Of Heightened Awareness In Which The Barrier Between The Past And The Present Can Fall And The Reality Of The Past We Thought Lost Can Be Momentarily Rediscovered In Its Material Being. In His Readings Of Seven Exceptional Works Depicting Twentieth Century Atrocities, Guynn Explores The Emotional Resonance That Still Adheres To Traumatic Historical Events. Guynn Considers Dimensions Of Experience That Historiography Leaves Untouched. Yaël Hersonski's A Film Unfinished (2010) Deconstructs Scenes From The Nazi Propaganda Film Das Ghetto Through The Testimony Of Ghetto Survivors. Andrzej Wajda's Katyn (2007) Revivifies The Murder Of The Polish Officer Corps (in Which Wajda's Father Perished) By Stalin's Security Forces During The Second World War. Andrei Konchalovsky's Siberiade (1979) Reimagines The Turbulent History Of The Soviet Union From The Perspective Of An Isolated Siberian Village. Larissa Shepitko's The Ascent (1977) Evokes The Existential Drama Soviet Partisans Faced During The Nazi Occupation. Patricio Guzmán's Nostalgia For The Light (2011) Examines The Vestiges Of Human Experience, Including The Scattered Remains Of Pinochet's Victims, Alive In The Aridity Of The Atacama Desert. Rithy Panh's S-21 (2003) Reawakens Events Of The Cambodian Genocide Through Dramatic Confrontation With Some Of Its Executioners, And Joshua Oppenheimer's The Act Of Killing (2012) Films The Perpetrators Of The Indonesian Genocide As They Restage Scenes Of Killings And Torture. Inspired By The Work Of Walter Benjamin, Frank Ankersmit, Joseph Mali, And Simon Schama, Guynn Argues That The Film Medium, More Immediate Than Language, Is Capable Of Restoring The Affective Dimension Of Historical Experience, Rooted In The Deepest Reaches Of Our Minds. -- Publisher's Description Introduction: Making Experience Speak -- Yael Hersonski's A Film Unfinished (2010) -- Andrzej Wajda's Katyn (2007) -- Andrei Konchalovsky's Siberiade (2007) -- Larisa Shepitko's The Ascent (1976) -- Patricio Guzman's Nostalgia For The Light (2010) -- Rithy Panh's S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine (2003) -- Joshua Oppenheimer's The Act Of Killing (2012) -- Epilogue. William Guynn. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In Unspeakable Histories, William Guynn focuses on the sensation of encountering past events through film. Film is capable, he argues, of triggering moments of heightened awareness in which the barrier between the past and the present can fall and the reality of the past we thought lost can be momentarily rediscovered in its material being. In his readings of seven exceptional works depicting twentieth century atrocities, Guynn explores the emotional resonance that still adheres to traumatic historical events. Guynn considers dimensions of experience that historiography leaves untouched. Yael Hersonski's A Film Unfinished (2010) deconstructs scenes from the Nazi propaganda film Das Ghetto through the testimony of ghetto survivors. Andrzej Wajda's Katyn (2007) revivifies the murder of the Polish officer corps (in which Wajda's father perished) by Stalin's security forces during the Second World War. Andrei Konchalovsky's Siberiade (1979) reimagines the turbulent history of the Soviet Union from the perspective of an isolated Siberian village. Larissa Shepitko's The Ascent (1977) evokes the existential drama Soviet partisans faced during the Nazi occupation. Patricio GuzmAn's Nostalgia for the Light (2011) examines the vestiges of human experience, including the scattered remains of Pinochet's victims, alive in the aridity of the Atacama Desert. Rithy Panh's S-21 (2003) reawakens events of the Cambodian genocide through dramatic confrontation with some of its executioners, and Joshua Oppenheimer's The Act of Killing (2012) films the perpetrators of the Indonesian genocide as they restage scenes of killings and torture. Inspired by the work of Walter Benjamin, Frank Ankersmit, Joseph Mali, and Simon Schama, Guynn argues that the film medium, more immediate than language, is capable of restoring the affective dimension of historical experience, rooted in the deepest reaches of our minds Table of Contents Introduction: Making Experience Speak 1. Yaël Hersonski’s A Film Unfinished 2. Andrzej Wajda’s Katyn 3. Andrei Konchalovsky’s Siberiade 4. Larisa Shepitko’s The Ascent 5. Patricio Guzmán’s Nostalgia for the Light 6. Rithy Panh’s S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine 7. Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index William Guynn reads seven films depicting atrocities, exploring the emotional resonance that still adheres to traumatic events and the dimensions of experience that historiography leaves untouched. Unspeakable Histories argues that the film medium triggers moments of heightened awareness in which the reality of the past may be recovered.