The Responsibility of Our Voice in Documenting Humanity

Even after wars have ended and events have passed, documentaries can offer new perspectives and provide evidence that shape our understanding of the world. Throughout history, we have seen numerous instances where wars have influenced the following decades of filmmaking. Wars reshape humanity and those who experience them, so it's no surprise that these events are reflected in films. As Jennings emphasized, “even in times of war, humanity remains the most important element.” Documentaries serve as a platform to shed light on people's resilience, interactions, and suffering. 

Directors like Fritz Hippler depicted Jewish people under dehumanizing conditions, often using fictional shots to portray them in a degrading light. However, footage documenting the horrors of war later became key evidence in war trials. In the 1955 film Night and Fog, Resnais presents the same events that other filmmakers have depicted, but this time, the images speak for themselves, revealing the brutal conditions endured under the Nazi regime. Humanity remains the central theme, especially the humanity stripped from the motionless bodies shown. Whether told in a derogatory manner by Hippler or a stark and righteous form by Resnais, humanity is still depicted. 

Night and Fog

This leads me to my next point: voice. Every documentary has a unique voice that reflects the filmmaker's perspective on the world. This voice is shaped by different filmmaking techniques and modes. Its power lies in its ability to persuade viewers to adopt the filmmaker's point of view. In The Act of Killing, for example, the voice is carried by the death-squad leaders. What makes the film so powerful is that the filmmaker conveys his message through those responsible for the atrocities. He allows the murderers to confront their horrific actions, using their own words to communicate the point. The director guides the conversation, but it is the leaders who expose their own corruption and hypocrisy. 

The Act of Killing

Documentaries are pieces of history that teach us about humanity. They allow us to see how history repeats itself or how humanity reacts to it. Films like Night and Fog and The Act of Killing, which addresses another genocide, demonstrate the importance of documenting these events. Most importantly, what matters is the voice that documents them and how it works to preserve our humanity.