Join GBH and Boston Symphony Orchestra for a conversation with Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein on their latest film, The U.S. and the Holocaust. This three-part documentary explores America’s response to one of the greatest atrocities of the 20th century and the humanitarian crisis that followed. The film examines the rise of Hitler and Nazism in Germany in the context of global antisemitism and racism, the eugenics movement in the United States and race laws in the American South.

This event will feature clips from the film followed by a behind the scenes conversation with the filmmakers.

Music from the film will be performed live by Kyle Sanna and Johnny Gandelsman of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Panelists
Ken Burns, Producer/Director
Lynn Novick, Producer/Director
Sarah Botstein, Producer/Director

Pam Johnston, General Manager of GBH News will moderate the discussion.

The U.S. and the Holocaust
Americans consider themselves a “nation of immigrants,” but as the catastrophe of the Holocaust unfolded in Europe, the United States proved unwilling to open its doors to more than a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of desperate people seeking refuge. Through riveting first-hand testimony, witnesses and survivors describe persecution, violence and flight as their families tried to escape Hitler. This series delves deeply into the tragic human consequences of public indifference, bureaucratic red tape and restrictive quota laws in the U.S. Did the nation fail to live up to its ideals? This is a history to be reckoned with.

The U.S. and the Holocaust airs September 18, 19 and 20, 8-10pm on GBH 2 and PBS stations nationwide.