Director Elan Golod Talks About Outsider Artist Nathan Hilu Movie on SOUNDS with Tom Needham

SOUNDS with Tom Needham

On this episode of SOUNDS with Tom Needham, filmmaker Elan Golod joins the show to discuss his latest documentary, “Nathan-ism.” The film, releasing on November 15, 2024, at New York City’s Quad Cinema and later in Los Angeles and nationwide, captures the poignant journey of Nathan Hilu, an outsider artist whose life was profoundly shaped by his role as a guard to Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg Trials. At just 18, Hilu—a young man from a Syrian-Jewish immigrant family—was entrusted by the U.S. Army to guard notorious figures such as Hermann Goering, a duty that gave him an intimate view of both unimaginable evil and historic reckoning. For decades, Hilu processed these haunting memories by creating raw, vibrant artwork, leaving a legacy of sketches and notes that bear witness to his experiences.

In “Nathan-ism,” Golod examines the intersection of art, memory, and history, exploring how Hilu’s compulsive need to document his memories offers a unique lens on one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century. Acclaimed for its emotional depth and historical significance, “Nathan-ism” has garnered prestigious awards, including the Yad Vashem Award for Cinematic Excellence in Holocaust Documentary Filmmaking and a spot on the International Documentary Association’s shortlist for Documentary of the Year. Golod, known for his work on projects like “Sleepwalk with Me” and “Don’t Think Twice,” brings a sensitive touch to this powerful story, reflecting on how Hilu’s artwork not only preserves personal memory but also speaks to the collective need for historical understanding in today’s world.