Alain Resnais film consists of a mixture of black and white documentary footage from concentration camps and color shots taken in 1955 in Auschwitz and elsewhere. Eisler wrote the music, consisting of 13 self-contained numbers, within a few weeks in Paris. From the transmitted sources, however, it emerges that he had previously completed extensive sketches in Berlin, and culled especially his Winter Battle music (written in early 1955) from them. Later he also used material from Nuit et Brouillard for various incidental music pieces.

The film, which drew considerable attention, won the Jean Vigo Award in 1956 and was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival. It was later the object of a double reception in East and West Germany at different times and in different versions. The musical text of the Complete Edition is based on the autograph partial score. During the recording of the soundtrack for the film, it emerged as is confirmed by the performing parts that modifications had been made in comparison to the music of the scores. For example, certain groups of measures were repeated so as to ensure that picture and music were synchronous.

These discrepancies are listed in the Critical Report.