"Denial" is a 2016 film based on the 2000 Lipstadt trial, starring Timothy Spall as David Irving. The film depicts Deborah Lipstadt's legal battle against Irving, who sued her for libel after she called him a Holocaust denier in her book "Denying the Holocaust." The film explores the legal and historical complexities of the case and the defense of historical truth.
The film was inspired by Lipstadt’s book and the subsequent legal case brought against her by David Irving. Irving sought to portray himself as a historian unfairly maligned, while Lipstadt and her legal team aimed to prove his historical distortions and antisemitism. The film's production involved scrutiny of the trial and its implications for historical accuracy and freedom of speech.
The film portrays the lead-up to and the unfolding of the trial, highlighting key moments and characters. Initial discussions involved concerns about Deborah Lipstadt’s testimony, with Anthony Julius and Rampton suggesting she not testify to avoid potential legal complications (denial_screenplay_2015). The film depicts the media frenzy surrounding the trial, with news reports emphasizing the clash between a historian and an academic, and suggesting financial support from figures like Stephen Spielberg (denial_screenplay_2015). The courtroom scenes showcase Irving’s eloquent defense and Deborah’s determination, with Julius acting as her strategic legal counsel (denial_screenplay_2015). The film culminates in a verdict against Irving, with reporters proclaiming it "one of the most crushing libel judgements in history" (denial_screenplay_2015). Following the verdict, Deborah is initially silent, but Julius encourages her to speak (denial_screenplay_2015).
The film received mixed reviews, with some criticizing its perceived simplicity and lack of depth (diary_2017_oct_nov). David Irving viewed the film negatively, believing it was a poorly made attempt to discredit him and highlight his intelligence and research (diary_2017_oct_nov). The film's release coincided with ongoing debates about antisemitism and historical denial, as evidenced by a 2021 email referencing Gil Ofarim's allegations and the broader context of denying historical events (emails_2023_2024). The film served as a reminder of the importance of confronting historical revisionism and defending the truth about the Holocaust (emails_2023_2024).
"a cheap, made for TV, court room drama than a proper movie." (diary_2017_oct_nov) "David Irving is an extremely intelligent, well educated man. His work is very, very well researched. That is why they felt compelled to make this (really bad) movie about him, to try and discredit him." (diary_2017_oct_nov)
* denial_screenplay_2015 * diary_2017_oct_nov * diary_2021 * emails_2023_2024