German Concentration Camps Factual Survey (2017): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2017, German Concentration Camps Factual Survey is a history and documentary film directed by Sidney Bernstein, running about 75 minutes. “A lost masterpiece of British documentary cinema from 1945” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. On the 29th September 1945, the incomplete rough cut of a brilliant documentary about concentration camps was viewed at the MOI in London. For five months, Sidney Bernstein had led a small team – which included Stewart McAllister, Richard Crossman and Alfred Hitchcock – to complete the film from hours of shocking footage. Unfortunately, this ambitious Allied project to create a feature-length visual report that would damn the Nazi regime and shame the German people into acceptance of Allied occupation had missed its moment. Even in its incomplete form (available since 1984) the film was immensely powerful, generating an awed hush among audiences. But now, complete to six reels, this faithfully restored and definitive version produced by IWM, is being compared with Alain Resnais’ Night and Fog (1955).

Who’s in it. German Concentration Camps Factual Survey stars Trevor Howard as Narrator (fragment version), Jasper Britton as Narrator (restored version), Jane Wells as Self and David Cesarani as Self, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.9/10, German Concentration Camps Factual Survey has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Chai Flicks. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch German Concentration Camps Factual Survey page.

If you liked it. Fans of German Concentration Camps Factual Survey tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge and Green Book.