In Messenger from Poland, Jan Karski, a secret agent for the Polish government-in-exile, tells how he witnessed the Holocaust whilst it was taking place. After personally reporting what was happening to American President Roosevelt and Britain's Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, Karski was shocked to realise that the on-going extermination of European Jews was, and would remain, 'a side issue'. More than seventy years later genocides still take place. Can genocide ever be taken as a side issue? If not when should intervention take place?
After the film screening, the film's director Martin Smith, University of Bristol historian Joanna Michlic and political scientist Torsten Michel will lead a discussion about the lessons that have and have not been learnt.
Admission Free, booking required in advance via the online booking form.
Part of the Past Matters programme of events: the University's Festival of History.