Nuit et Brouillard

1955, Alain Resnais' (scored by Hans Eisler) short documentary.
The long, tracking shots that open and continue throughout this piece certaintly offer a kind of melancholia, demonstrating the inevitability of change while some essence, element of the eternal, is lost. The use of modern footage certainly succeeds in distancing, suprising, offering the central dislocation that runs through this film; the past from the present.
What is offered here as a desperate attempt to chronicle. For all the discussion of this film's thesis as being the unknowability of past horror, which obviously is central, this film forever presses on, showing us images, always trying to explain, not copping out by resting when it appears to reach a limit of understanding. It attempts to accurately, sharply, precisely detail what it can, though the task may not be possible.
The musical score is a real challenge. Obviously it would be deeply offensive were it used to emote, and to an extent it does deliberately counter this, but there is also an element of it being used critically, asking us to look 'under' the image so to speak, in the sound.
Trying to remember, trying to document so people can remember, is a necessary and nearly impossible job. This film tries, tries, tries.