Watch The Last Survivor

The Last Survivor is a gripping and poignant documentary film that chronicles the harrowing tales of survivors of some of the most notorious genocides and mass atrocities of the 20th century. Directed and produced by Michael Pertnoy and Michael Kleiman, the film combines powerful personal narratives with historical context and scholarly insights to offer a sobering and illuminating examination of the human cost of violence and hate.

The film opens with the story of survivor Hinda Kipnis, who as a young girl escaped the massacre of her family and neighbors in the Lithuanian village of Kudirkos Naumiestis in June 1941. Through Kipnis' vivid and moving recollections, we get a sense of the terror and confusion that gripped the Jewish community as the Nazis and their collaborators carried out their murderous rampage. We also see how Kipnis' resilience and resourcefulness enabled her to survive the war and rebuild her life in the United States.

From there, the film takes us on a tour of other moments of mass violence and persecution, including the Rwandan genocide of 1994, the Darfur conflict in Sudan, and the ongoing crisis in Congo. In each case, we meet survivors who have found the courage to share their experiences with the world, often after years of silence and trauma. We also hear from experts and activists who provide context and analysis of each crisis, highlighting the complex factors that contributed to the violence and the ongoing efforts to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.

One of the most striking things about The Last Survivor is the diversity of the survivors' experiences and backgrounds. We meet a Tutsi woman who lost most of her family to the Rwandan genocide, a former child soldier from Uganda who was abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army, and a survivor of the Bosnian war who lost her husband and son to an Serbian detention camp. Despite the different contexts and cultures, however, these stories all share a common thread of resilience and hope.

The filmmakers show an admirable sensitivity and restraint in allowing the survivors to tell their own stories in their own words, without imposing a particular narrative or agenda. At the same time, the film is not shy about grappling with some of the thornier issues that arise in the wake of mass violence: questions of justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation. We hear from survivors who have found a way to forgive their tormentors, and from others who are still struggling with anger and bitterness. We also see the ways in which external actors, such as the International Criminal Court or grassroots peace organizations, have tried to address the legacies of violence and promote healing and rebuilding.

The cinematography and score of the film are both top-notch, with beautiful aerial shots of the African landscapes and haunting melodies that underscore the emotional resonance of the survivors' stories. The filmmakers make strategic use of archival footage, photographs, and artwork to provide historical context and illustrate the scale and brutality of the violence being described. It is a film that is both visually stunning and intellectually engaging.

The Last Survivor is not an easy film to watch. The stories of violence and trauma are visceral and heartbreaking, and at times it can be difficult to sit through the relentless cascade of horror and suffering. At the same time, the film's message of resilience and hope in the face of unimaginable adversity is a testament to the human spirit and a call to action for a world that too often turns a blind eye to the suffering of others. The film is a powerful reminder of the importance of bearing witness, of listening to those who have been silenced, and of finding ways to work together to build a more just and peaceful world.

The Last Survivor is a 2012 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.