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Shoah

1985·Movie
9h 26min·NR
92
ExcellentGoodWatch score

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Immersive world, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Spectacle3
  • Violence3

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis7

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Dark Humor2
  • Situational Comedy0

World

History, a real life story, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion10
  • Dialogue Centrality10
  • Novelty8

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and dialogue

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction9
  • Complexity9
  • Acting8

Style

Standout editing

  • Editing8
  • Cinematography7
  • Sound Centrality6

Who it's for

AdultsSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You want something to laugh atYou need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacingYou want to half-watch while scrolling

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Director Claude Lanzmann spent 11 years on this sprawling documentary about the Holocaust, conducting his own interviews and refusing to use a single frame of archival footage. Dividing Holocaust witnesses into three categories – survivors, bystanders, and perpetrators – Lanzmann presents testimonies from survivors of the Chelmno concentration camp, an Auschwitz escapee, and witnesses of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, as well as a chilling report of gas chambers from an SS officer at Treblinka.
Holocaust DocumentaryHistorical TestimonyMoral WitnessingSurvivor AccountsHumanity's Darkest HourHistorical InvestigationUnflinchingProfoundly Moving

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Shoah

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Shoah legally?

Shoah is included with a subscription to Philo in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Shoah worth watching?

92
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 92/100 (IMDb 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 99). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Shoah rated?

NRViolenceDisturbing imagery

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Shoah?

9 h 26 min

Shoah runs 9 h 26 min.

Is Shoah based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Shoah?

Critics100
Audiences86

Not quite. Critics rate Shoah higher (100) than audiences (86). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Shoah in?

FrenchYiddishHebrewGermanPolishEnglish

It was made in French, with some Yiddish, Hebrew, German, Polish, English. Produced in France.

In how many countries can I watch Shoah?

133ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBFBG+119

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Shoah in 133 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Shoah use?

Punch-Clock VillainP.O.V. CamConditioned to Accept HorrorSnow Means DeathRetired MonsterAnachronic OrderTalking HeadsLeave the Camera RunningWham LineDocumentaryDrowning My Sorrows

TV Tropes lists 11 storytelling tropes for Shoah, including Punch-Clock Villain, P.O.V. Cam, Conditioned to Accept Horror.