Photo : Still du film Le Branleur, les aventures d’Edgar Hilsenrath.
The Jerk, the adventures of Edgar Hilsenrath by François‑Xavier Destors
Step into the defiant world of Edgar Hilsenrath, a writer who famously weaponized humor against history’s darkest chapters. This hybrid documentary blends animation and raw storytelling to bring his cynical, human, and deeply visceral legacy back to life. Join us for a screening that captures the essence of an author who never shied away from the brutal truths of the margin.
Mémorial de la Shoah (Paris 4th)
About
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Mémorial de la Shoah hosts the screening of Le Branleur, les aventures d’Edgar Hilsenrath, a hybrid documentary directed by François-Xavier Destors. From 19:00 to 21:00, audiences aged 16 and over are invited to discover the world of the German-Jewish author known for his fearless and often provocative literary perspective. Through a blend of animation, the film examines works like The Nazi and the Barber and Fuck America. This event is held in a venue that is fully accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring an inclusive experience for all attendees interested in this deep dive into 20th-century literature.
This hybrid animation documentary immerses us in the transgressive world of Edgar Hilsenrath, the first German Jewish writer who dared to laugh in the face of the worst. His monumental work inspired by his experience of the Holocaust includes flagship titles such as The Nazi and the Barber (1971) and Fuck America (1980). His masterpiece Night, published in the United States in 1976 to immediate success, was first published in Germany in 1964 before being withdrawn from sale by the publisher due to the crudeness of its content. It remained censored in Germany for nearly 20 years. Without embellishment, detours, or circumlocution, Hilsenrath's work is that of magnificent losers and inglorious wanderings. It is the incisive acuity of outcasts on the depths of the human experience.
In the presence of the director, Frédéric Martin, founder of Le Tripode publishing house, and Agathe Pin‑Chomette, author of Edgar Hilsenrath. La voie de l’impertinence (Le Tripode, 2026).
In conversation with Nicolas Champeaux, journalist and director.
With the support of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah.
Our take on this event
The documentary Le Branleur, les aventures d’Edgar Hilsenrath provides a unique exploration of an author who dared to use dark humor to confront the darkest chapters of history. By mixing animation with biographical storytelling, the film dissects the legacy of Hilsenrath, a writer whose masterworks, including Nuit and Fuck America, were often met with resistance due to their raw and unflinching honesty. The screening highlights the life of this unconventional figure and his ability to capture the human experience through the eyes of the marginalized.
The event, scheduled for November 5, 2026, features a post-screening conversation moderated by journalist and director Nicolas Champeaux. The discussion will include the film's director, François-Xavier Destors, alongside Frédéric Martin, founder of Le Tripode editions, and author Agathe Pin-Chomette. Their exchange will delve into the themes presented in the film and the enduring relevance of Hilsenrath's work, with the support of the Fondation pour la mémoire de la Shoah.
The screening takes place from 19:00 to 21:00 at the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris's 4th arrondissement. Tickets are priced between 3€ and 5€. Entry is strictly for those 16 years of age and older. The venue is fully accessible for wheelchair users.
