German Cinema - Terror and Trauma

The exploration of the Holocaust's impact on postwar German cinema reveals a complex interplay of trauma and cultural memory. Thomas Elsaesser examines how Germany's efforts to confront its past represent both failures and successes, contributing to a broader European context of 'guilt management.' Through case studies of notable filmmakers like Fassbinder and Farocki, he illustrates the varied representations of the Holocaust in German films from the 1950s to the present, highlighting its pervasive influence even when not explicitly depicted.