Nuit et brouillard by Alain Resnais

Published in 1987 by Aarhus University Press, this monograph serves as a rigorous scholarly examination of Alain Resnais's 1956 documentary 'Nuit et brouillard' (Night and Fog). Richard Raskin designed this work to provide a comprehensive structural and thematic analysis of the film, which was one of the first cinematic attempts to address the atrocities of the Holocaust. The book emerged as a crucial piece of media studies literature, aiming to decode the complex interplay between Resnais's archival footage and the poetic, detached narration provided by Jean Cayrol.

Raskin’s analysis is highly regarded for its focus on the semiotics of the film, exploring how the stark contrast between the vibrant present-day ruins of the concentration camps and the harrowing black-and-white historical footage influences the viewer's perception of memory and trauma. The text is frequently cited by film historians for its meticulous breakdown of the film's visual rhythm and its ethical considerations regarding the representation of historical tragedy. It remains an essential reference for those studying the intersection of cinema, history, and documentary ethics.