Austerlitz

A fixed camera films tourists at Nazi death camps, watching as they observe, and thereby questioning the nature of history and remembrance.

"A hot summer's day and hordes of tourists flood through the entrance gates of Dachau and Sachsenhausen, past the 'Arbeit Macht Frei' ('Work Sets You Free') sign. Dressed in summer gear, they look around, smile for selfies, point, chat and yawn. We hear snippets of their conversations, and fragments of tour guide commentary. The tourists are not deliberately disrespectful, but T-shirt slogans such as 'Cool Story Bro' strike a jarring note. Sergei Loznitsa's brilliant black-and-white documentary is thought-provoking, in the face of this apparent thoughtlessness. The Ukrainian director (Maidan, The Event) challenges us to consider how we should behave, and what we hope to gain by looking at the past." (Sydney Film Festival)

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