Denial (2016 film)

Denial (2016 film)
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Name	Denial
Director	Mick Jackson
Producer	Gary Foster, Russ Krasnoff
Writer	David Hare
Starring	Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall
Music	Howard Shore
Cinematography	Haris Zambarloukos
Editing	Justine Wright
Production company	BBC Films, Participant Media
Distributed	Bleecker Street (company), Entertainment One
Release date	September 11, 2016
Runtime	110 minutes
Country	United Kingdom, United States
Language	English
Budget	$10 million

Denial (2016 film) is a historical drama film directed by Mick Jackson and written by David Hare, based on the book History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier by Deborah Lipstadt. The film stars Rachel Weisz as Deborah Lipstadt, a professor at Emory University who is sued for libel by David Irving, a Holocaust denier played by Timothy Spall. The film also features Tom Wilkinson as Richard Rampton, a barrister who defends Deborah Lipstadt in court, and Andrew Scott as Anthony Julius, a solicitor who helps prepare the case. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States by Bleecker Street (company) and in the United Kingdom by Entertainment One.

Plot

The film tells the story of the libel trial between Deborah Lipstadt and David Irving, which took place in the High Court of Justice in London in 2000. The trial was a result of David Irving's lawsuit against Deborah Lipstadt and her publisher, Penguin Books, over her book Denying the Holocaust, which accused David Irving of being a Holocaust denier. The film follows the preparation for the trial, including the gathering of evidence by Deborah Lipstadt and her team, including Richard Rampton and Anthony Julius, and the Auschwitz concentration camp expert, Robert Jan van Pelt. The film also depicts the trial itself, including the testimony of David Irving and the presentation of evidence by both sides, including documents from the National Archives and Records Administration and the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center. The film features appearances by Alex Jennings as Charles Gray (barrister), Jack Lowden as James Libson, and Caren Pistorius as Laura Tyler.

Production

The film was produced by Gary Foster and Russ Krasnoff, with Mick Jackson directing and David Hare writing the screenplay. The film was shot on location in London and Poland, with cinematography by Haris Zambarloukos and editing by Justine Wright. The film's score was composed by Howard Shore, who has also worked on films such as The Lord of the Rings and The Silence of the Lambs. The film was produced by BBC Films and Participant Media, with financing from British Film Institute and Lipstadt's own Emory University. The film's production team also included Nicolas Chartier as an executive producer, and Jonathan King (film producer) as a producer.

Cast

The film features a cast of experienced actors, including Rachel Weisz as Deborah Lipstadt, Tom Wilkinson as Richard Rampton, and Timothy Spall as David Irving. The film also features Andrew Scott as Anthony Julius, Jack Lowden as James Libson, and Caren Pistorius as Laura Tyler. The film's cast also includes Alex Jennings as Charles Gray (barrister), Harriet Walter as Vera Reich, and Mark Gatiss as Professor Robert Van Pelt. The film's cast has been praised for their performances, with Rachel Weisz receiving particular acclaim for her portrayal of Deborah Lipstadt, a professor at Harvard University and Yale University.

Release

The film was released in the United States on September 11, 2016, by Bleecker Street (company), and in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2017, by Entertainment One. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2016, and was also screened at the Telluride Film Festival and the London Film Festival. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 7, 2017, by Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The film's release was supported by a marketing campaign that included trailers and television spots, as well as promotional partnerships with organizations such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Anti-Defamation League.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for the performances of the cast, particularly Rachel Weisz and Tom Wilkinson. The film holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 83%, based on 144 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The film also received praise from organizations such as the American Historical Association and the Holocaust Educational Trust. The film was also nominated for several awards, including the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress for Rachel Weisz and the London Film Critics' Circle Award for Supporting Actor of the Year for Tom Wilkinson. The film's success has been seen as a testament to the importance of Deborah Lipstadt's work and the need to continue to educate people about the Holocaust and its significance, as recognized by institutions such as the Yale University and the University of Oxford.