1labfs39
Please feel free to use this thread to list, post reviews, and discuss films and documentaries pertaining to the Holocaust.
2labfs39
Master list of films and documentaries (with reference to post #):
3) Shoah
4) Who Will Write Our History
5) Tiger Within
5) Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz
6) Inside Hana's Suitcase
7) The Flat
8) The Last Klezmer
10) Hannah Arendt
The Eichmann Show
Labyrinth of Lies
11) Babi Yar: Context
12) Life is Beautiful
13) Defiance (2008)
The Pianist
The Counterfeiters (2007)
Sarah's Key
A bag of marbles (2016)
Run, Boy, Run (2013)
The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)
Island on Bird Street
Haven
Resistance
14) Blessed is the Match
Paper Clips
3) Shoah
4) Who Will Write Our History
5) Tiger Within
5) Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz
6) Inside Hana's Suitcase
7) The Flat
8) The Last Klezmer
10) Hannah Arendt
The Eichmann Show
Labyrinth of Lies
11) Babi Yar: Context
12) Life is Beautiful
13) Defiance (2008)
The Pianist
The Counterfeiters (2007)
Sarah's Key
A bag of marbles (2016)
Run, Boy, Run (2013)
The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)
Island on Bird Street
Haven
Resistance
14) Blessed is the Match
Paper Clips
3avatiakh
Shoah
From wikipedia:
Shoah is a 1985 French documentary film about the Holocaust, directed by Claude Lanzmann. Over nine hours long and 11 years in the making, the film presents Lanzmann's interviews with survivors, witnesses and perpetrators during visits to German Holocaust sites across Poland, including extermination camps.
Over 350 hours of raw footage were recorded.
There is no historic footage
Five feature-length films have since been released from the outtakes.
Lanzmann's 350 hours of raw footage, along with the transcripts, are available on the website of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
In 1985, critic Roger Ebert described it as "an extraordinary film" and "one of the noblest films ever made". He wrote: "It is not a documentary, not journalism, not propaganda, not political. It is an act of witness."
4labfs39
Who Will Write Our History mentioned by rocketjk on the Nonfiction thread, post 5
"In November 1940, days after the Nazis sealed 450,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, a secret band of journalists, scholars and community leaders decided to fight back. Led by historian Emanuel Ringelblum and known by the code name Oyneg Shabes, this clandestine group vowed to defeat Nazi lies and propaganda not with guns or fists but with pen and paper. Now, for the first time, their story is told as a feature documentary. Written, produced and directed by Roberta Grossman and executive produced by Nancy Spielberg, Who Will Write Our History mixes the writings of the Oyneg Shabes archive with new interviews, rarely seen footage and stunning dramatizations to transport us inside the Ghetto and the lives of these courageous resistance fighters. They defied their murderous enemy with the ultimate weapon – the truth – and risked everything so that their archive would survive the war, even if they did not."
A shorter 37-minute version is available for free on Vimeo, posted by the Holocaust Museum of Miami Beach. The full hour and a half version is available for purchase on Vimeo or on Amazon Prime.
"In November 1940, days after the Nazis sealed 450,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, a secret band of journalists, scholars and community leaders decided to fight back. Led by historian Emanuel Ringelblum and known by the code name Oyneg Shabes, this clandestine group vowed to defeat Nazi lies and propaganda not with guns or fists but with pen and paper. Now, for the first time, their story is told as a feature documentary. Written, produced and directed by Roberta Grossman and executive produced by Nancy Spielberg, Who Will Write Our History mixes the writings of the Oyneg Shabes archive with new interviews, rarely seen footage and stunning dramatizations to transport us inside the Ghetto and the lives of these courageous resistance fighters. They defied their murderous enemy with the ultimate weapon – the truth – and risked everything so that their archive would survive the war, even if they did not."
A shorter 37-minute version is available for free on Vimeo, posted by the Holocaust Museum of Miami Beach. The full hour and a half version is available for purchase on Vimeo or on Amazon Prime.
5jessibud2
A very good film I saw last year was one of Ed Asner's final roles, as a Holocaust survivor in Los Angeles (I think). He becomes an unlikely friend to a young runaway girl who knows nothing about the Holocaust. He takes her in and thus begins a most unlikely friendship. The film is called *Tiger Within*. I will edit in my review after I find it (I know I saved it *somewhere*)
Another outstanding documentary that is a must-see is *Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz*. What a remarkable man! he was also featured on a segment of 60 Minutes around the time this film came out. He would be 101 years old now. His actual first gig as a lawyer was at the Nuremburg Trials! He was in his 20s. And the rest of his life has been as productive and impressive. He was the one, I believe, who coined the term *crimes against humanity*, among other things.
https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/prosecuting-evil-the-extraordinary-wo...
Another outstanding documentary that is a must-see is *Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz*. What a remarkable man! he was also featured on a segment of 60 Minutes around the time this film came out. He would be 101 years old now. His actual first gig as a lawyer was at the Nuremburg Trials! He was in his 20s. And the rest of his life has been as productive and impressive. He was the one, I believe, who coined the term *crimes against humanity*, among other things.
https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/prosecuting-evil-the-extraordinary-wo...
6labfs39
As a follow-up to jessibud2's on the Juvenile Literature thread, I wanted to post a link to the documentary "Inside Hana's Suitcase". It's available on Amazon and in the US on Vimeo for US$1.99. I'm not sure if it is available to international viewers here.
7rocketjk
My wife and I watched the documentary, The Flat, several years ago and thought it outstanding. From Roger Ebert's review:
In the 1930s, two German couples visited Palestine together. One couple, the Tuchlers, was Jewish. The husband in the other couple, the von Mildensteins, was the predecessor of Adolf Eichmann, Nazi propagandist and eventual war criminal. Baron von Mildenstein wrote an article about the trip, "A Nazi in Palestine," for a Nazi newspaper.
Both men in fact were ardent Zionists, of course for different reasons. Von Mildenstein believed that encouraging Germany's Jews to emigrate to Palestine was a practical solution to "The Jewish problem," and used his position to encourage his thinking with Hitler and Goebbels. As the Holocaust began to take shape, the Tuchlers sailed for Palestine. Remarkably, after the war, they reached out to their old friends the von Mildensteins, and the friendship was restarted, the couples remaining close and friendly.
"The Flat," a spellbinding documentary about family secrets, begins when the maker of this film, Arnon Goldfinger, joins his mother in cleaning out the Tel Aviv flat of his grandmother, her mother, who had just died at 98. They find the possessions of a lifetime, and among them, the long-ago newspaper article. His grandparents were friendly with a high Nazi official? More than that: Arnon's mother, Hannah, tells him that the couples resumed their friendship.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-flat-2012
The documentary shows Goldfinger's search for the truth about this surprising friendship. It is fascinating on both a personal and historical level. The trailer is here:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2071620/
In the 1930s, two German couples visited Palestine together. One couple, the Tuchlers, was Jewish. The husband in the other couple, the von Mildensteins, was the predecessor of Adolf Eichmann, Nazi propagandist and eventual war criminal. Baron von Mildenstein wrote an article about the trip, "A Nazi in Palestine," for a Nazi newspaper.
Both men in fact were ardent Zionists, of course for different reasons. Von Mildenstein believed that encouraging Germany's Jews to emigrate to Palestine was a practical solution to "The Jewish problem," and used his position to encourage his thinking with Hitler and Goebbels. As the Holocaust began to take shape, the Tuchlers sailed for Palestine. Remarkably, after the war, they reached out to their old friends the von Mildensteins, and the friendship was restarted, the couples remaining close and friendly.
"The Flat," a spellbinding documentary about family secrets, begins when the maker of this film, Arnon Goldfinger, joins his mother in cleaning out the Tel Aviv flat of his grandmother, her mother, who had just died at 98. They find the possessions of a lifetime, and among them, the long-ago newspaper article. His grandparents were friendly with a high Nazi official? More than that: Arnon's mother, Hannah, tells him that the couples resumed their friendship.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-flat-2012
The documentary shows Goldfinger's search for the truth about this surprising friendship. It is fascinating on both a personal and historical level. The trailer is here:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2071620/
8rocketjk
Another fascinating documentary is The Last Klezmer
Here is the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis: "As seen through the eyes of klezmer musician, photographer and filmmaker Yale Strom, THE LAST KLEZMER portrays the animated life and music of Leopold Kozlowski, the last performing klezmer musician who grew up with this musical tradition in Poland. A generation ago, this region boasted thousands of "klezmorim" among its three-and-a-half million Jews. Today there is only one. Leopold retraces his life through memory, music and a journey back to his hometown of Przemyslany (near Lvov, Ukraine). We see Leopold today as a conductor and music teacher passing his knowledge of Jewish music to a new generation of Catholic Poles."
But here is the best description I've found, which is somewhat longer:
https://www.laemmle.com/film/last-klezmer
Here is the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis: "As seen through the eyes of klezmer musician, photographer and filmmaker Yale Strom, THE LAST KLEZMER portrays the animated life and music of Leopold Kozlowski, the last performing klezmer musician who grew up with this musical tradition in Poland. A generation ago, this region boasted thousands of "klezmorim" among its three-and-a-half million Jews. Today there is only one. Leopold retraces his life through memory, music and a journey back to his hometown of Przemyslany (near Lvov, Ukraine). We see Leopold today as a conductor and music teacher passing his knowledge of Jewish music to a new generation of Catholic Poles."
But here is the best description I've found, which is somewhat longer:
https://www.laemmle.com/film/last-klezmer
9torontoc
>5 jessibud2: Oh, I saw that film at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival a number of years ago!
and >7 rocketjk: that one as well! In fact, after the film there was a interview with Ben Ferencz( he was in Miami and did the interview live)
and >7 rocketjk: that one as well! In fact, after the film there was a interview with Ben Ferencz( he was in Miami and did the interview live)
10avatiakh
I've watched Hannah Arendt (2012) a couple of times. Mostly I remember her chain smoking her way through the entire film, but the main focus was actually on her coverage of the 1961 Eichmann trial in Jerusalem.
Also The Eichmann Show (2015) is about the filming of the trial and the resistance of Ben Gurion who didn't want it to turn into a show trial. 'The daily films produced and directed by Milton Fruchtman and Leo Hurwitz constitute the world's first ever global television documentary series. It was the first time the horror of the Nazi death camps had been heard on television, from the mouths of 112 eye witnesses and survivors.' - wikipedia
Labyrinth of Lies (2014) is a German film set in 1958 about a young lawyer who works for prosecutor-general Fritz Bauer, a German Jew, who puts him in charge of investigating the former guards / workers at Auschwitz. He wants to target Mengele, but Bauer convinces him to work on the lower level workers. One interesting scene is when he visits the American Occupation offices and is shown into a massive room filled with all the records that the Nazis had kept, he discovers about 8,000 people to investigate.
It depicts how after the war, so much was covered up, many of the political leaders and industrialists were ex-Nazi and looked out for each other. The younger generation knew little of what actually happened, what their parents had been involved in.
The film is based on true events though the role of the young lawyer is fictional. Fritz Bauer gave information to Mossad that led to the capture of Eichmann.
Also The Eichmann Show (2015) is about the filming of the trial and the resistance of Ben Gurion who didn't want it to turn into a show trial. 'The daily films produced and directed by Milton Fruchtman and Leo Hurwitz constitute the world's first ever global television documentary series. It was the first time the horror of the Nazi death camps had been heard on television, from the mouths of 112 eye witnesses and survivors.' - wikipedia
Labyrinth of Lies (2014) is a German film set in 1958 about a young lawyer who works for prosecutor-general Fritz Bauer, a German Jew, who puts him in charge of investigating the former guards / workers at Auschwitz. He wants to target Mengele, but Bauer convinces him to work on the lower level workers. One interesting scene is when he visits the American Occupation offices and is shown into a massive room filled with all the records that the Nazis had kept, he discovers about 8,000 people to investigate.
It depicts how after the war, so much was covered up, many of the political leaders and industrialists were ex-Nazi and looked out for each other. The younger generation knew little of what actually happened, what their parents had been involved in.
The film is based on true events though the role of the young lawyer is fictional. Fritz Bauer gave information to Mossad that led to the capture of Eichmann.
11rocketjk
I just saw this article in The NY Times, which I know will be pay-walled for many, but . . .
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/movies/babi-yar-context-review.html
‘Babi Yar: Context’ Review: Unearthing Footage of a Nazi Massacre
Sergei Loznitsa’s new documentary, about the mass murder of Ukrainian Jews in 1941, arrives in theaters with a grim context of its own.
From the article:
Over two days in September, 1941, German soldiers, assisted by Ukrainian collaborators, murdered 33,771 Jews at the Babi Yar ravine outside Kyiv. The massacre was one of the earliest and deadliest episodes in what is sometimes called the “holocaust by bullets,” a phase of the Nazi genocide that took place outside the mechanized slaughter of the death camps. These mobile killing squads, known as Einsatzgruppen, are estimated to have taken at least 1.5 million lives.
The Ukrainian-born filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa’s new documentary, consisting of archival footage interspersed with a few tersely informative title cards, is called “Babi Yar: Context.” What’s meant by “context” isn’t so much a broad, explanation of the event — such as one finds in the historian Timothy Snyder’s book “Bloodlands” — as a detailed visual narrative with a hole in the middle.
When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, they brought movie cameras as well as rifles. So did the Soviet Army when it took back Kyiv in 1943. Some of those cameras were instruments of propaganda; others were wielded by amateurs. The two sides left behind an extensive cinematic record, a pool of images that have mostly languished unseen since the end of the war. Weaving them together and dubbing in sound (the rumble of tanks and the murmur of crowds, with an occasional snippet of intelligible speech), Loznitsa has assembled a wrenching and revelatory collage.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/movies/babi-yar-context-review.html
‘Babi Yar: Context’ Review: Unearthing Footage of a Nazi Massacre
Sergei Loznitsa’s new documentary, about the mass murder of Ukrainian Jews in 1941, arrives in theaters with a grim context of its own.
From the article:
Over two days in September, 1941, German soldiers, assisted by Ukrainian collaborators, murdered 33,771 Jews at the Babi Yar ravine outside Kyiv. The massacre was one of the earliest and deadliest episodes in what is sometimes called the “holocaust by bullets,” a phase of the Nazi genocide that took place outside the mechanized slaughter of the death camps. These mobile killing squads, known as Einsatzgruppen, are estimated to have taken at least 1.5 million lives.
The Ukrainian-born filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa’s new documentary, consisting of archival footage interspersed with a few tersely informative title cards, is called “Babi Yar: Context.” What’s meant by “context” isn’t so much a broad, explanation of the event — such as one finds in the historian Timothy Snyder’s book “Bloodlands” — as a detailed visual narrative with a hole in the middle.
When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, they brought movie cameras as well as rifles. So did the Soviet Army when it took back Kyiv in 1943. Some of those cameras were instruments of propaganda; others were wielded by amateurs. The two sides left behind an extensive cinematic record, a pool of images that have mostly languished unseen since the end of the war. Weaving them together and dubbing in sound (the rumble of tanks and the murmur of crowds, with an occasional snippet of intelligible speech), Loznitsa has assembled a wrenching and revelatory collage.
12labfs39
Every year on the eve of Yom HaShoah, my daughter and I watch a movie about the Holocaust. Any suggestions of something not to gruesome? Maybe Life is Beautiful?
13avatiakh
I'll suggest Defiance, The Pianist, The Counterfeiters (2007), Sarah's Key, A bag of marbles (2016). Run, Boy, Run (2013), The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017), Island on Bird Street. Also Haven (2001) was a tv film about Ruth Gruber, starring Natasha Richardson.
I've seen the first four, can't remember if anything too gruesome happens in any of these. I saw Haven years ago, it's now on youtube,
I just watched Resistance which is about Marcel Marceau's time in the French Resistance, it was ok.
I've seen the first four, can't remember if anything too gruesome happens in any of these. I saw Haven years ago, it's now on youtube,
I just watched Resistance which is about Marcel Marceau's time in the French Resistance, it was ok.
14jessibud2
>13 avatiakh: - I hadn't realized Sarah's Key was a true story. I thought it was a novel. I don't think I could watch it as a film. Just reading the book spooked me and I couldn't get it out of my head for a long time. I don't think I'd want to watch it.
On the other hand, a riveting documentary that I own the dvd of, is called Blessed is the Match, the story of Hungarian paratrooper Hannah Senesh, during World War ll. A true Holocaust heroine.
Another film, if you can find it, isn't Holocaust per se, but is very much related to educating kids (and adults) about what happened during that time. It's called Paper Clips. A truly remarkable and excellent true story.
On the other hand, a riveting documentary that I own the dvd of, is called Blessed is the Match, the story of Hungarian paratrooper Hannah Senesh, during World War ll. A true Holocaust heroine.
Another film, if you can find it, isn't Holocaust per se, but is very much related to educating kids (and adults) about what happened during that time. It's called Paper Clips. A truly remarkable and excellent true story.
15labfs39
>14 jessibud2: Hmm, I don't think Sarah's Key is based on a true story, other than the fact of the roundup and the velodrome. I didn't care for the book and will pass on the movie. However I will look for Blessed is the Match. I have read some excerpts from her diary. Amazing life.
16jessibud2
>15 labfs39: - Both the ones I mentioned are really good, Lisa. Maybe your library has them? I borrow many films from our library and if my branch doesn't have them, they get them from other branches, as long as they are in the system. Not sure how Maine's library system works but it's worth asking.
17avatiakh
>14 jessibud2: Thanks for mentioning Blessed is the Match, I'll look out for it.
I only suggested Sarah's Key as Lisa was looking for a movie with less gruesome scenes and I couldn't think of many that fit the bill. I haven't read the book.
I only suggested Sarah's Key as Lisa was looking for a movie with less gruesome scenes and I couldn't think of many that fit the bill. I haven't read the book.
18jessibud2
I see that in my link in >14 jessibud2: to the film Paper Clips, it leads to a description not in English. I dug a little further and found this: https://www.librarything.com/work/739887. I guess it's also known as Six Million Paper Clips. Here, the description is in English. I wonder if it's the same film, because it's the same story...
19labfs39
>13 avatiakh: Thank you for the list, Kerry. I've seen Defiance, and my daughter and I watched The Pianist and the Zookeeper's Wife on previous Yom HaShoah's (and all three of which I've read as well). I've had Island on Bird Street on my TBR since you reviewed the book. Perhaps I'll get to the movie first. I'm also curious about Haven. I have the book, but haven't read it. The others were new to me.
>16 jessibud2: I hadn't thought of ILL for movies. I would have to hook up the DVD player--I'm so reliant on streaming now. Blessed is the Match is available on Amazon. I'll add it to the queue. Checking out Paper Clips.
We ended up watching Life is Beautiful. Such a beautiful film. I hadn't seen it in a long time. It led to a good discussion with my daughter about unconventional portrayals of the Holocaust (Kertesz was a fan of the film and of course of unconventional portrayals) and about humor and the Holocaust. One critic wrote, if you think LiB is a comedy, you've missed the point of the movie. And that led us to talking about what the point of the movie was.
>16 jessibud2: I hadn't thought of ILL for movies. I would have to hook up the DVD player--I'm so reliant on streaming now. Blessed is the Match is available on Amazon. I'll add it to the queue. Checking out Paper Clips.
We ended up watching Life is Beautiful. Such a beautiful film. I hadn't seen it in a long time. It led to a good discussion with my daughter about unconventional portrayals of the Holocaust (Kertesz was a fan of the film and of course of unconventional portrayals) and about humor and the Holocaust. One critic wrote, if you think LiB is a comedy, you've missed the point of the movie. And that led us to talking about what the point of the movie was.
20jessibud2
I just remembered another great documentary I saw at my local doc cinema. It's called Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz. 60 Minutes did a piece on him as well, a few years ago, but this doc was amazing. He was a very young lawyer and his first case (!!) was at the Nuremburg Trials. The doc was made when he was in his late 90s and he is still alive today, just turned 102. He doesn't shy away from some awful stuff but the film itself is very uplifting and he is a remarkable man. He was actually the one who coined the phrase we know so well today, crimes against humanity.
https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/prosecuting-evil-the-extraordinary-wo...
https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/prosecuting-evil-the-extraordinary-wo...
21torontoc
>20 jessibud2: that is an amazing film!
22MemorialeSardoShoah
Hi at all, new in the group and thanks for the invitation to join from avatiakh!
We are the Association of the Memorial of the Shoah in Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy, and in our institute we have also a very big video library, perhaps the second largest in Europe about the Holocaust and connected themes (we are cataloguing all here in Librarything, the database of videos are here: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/MemorialeSardoShoah/videoteca
We are working also for an enciclopedic publication in 2 volumes on cinema and Holocaust (first volume for documentaries and tv shows, the second for fictional movies of all genres), and until today we have catalogued for this work around 3000 fictional movies and around 1700 documentaries and tv shows about the holocaust.
For us, one of the best fictional movies about the Holocaust remain without doubts "Passenger" (Pasazerka) of Andrzej Munk, 1963 (https://www.librarything.com/work/19107157/details/138759375) a masterpiece, incompiuted cause the death of the director in a car crash in the same year, about the complex argument of feeling between victim and perpetrator in an extermination camp.
Also "For those i loved" (au nom de tous les miens) by Robert Enrico, 1983 (https://www.librarything.com/work/22734126/details/138692769; https://www.librarything.com/work/22734126/details/138693394 , the film is also a tv serial of around 8 hours that is also better than the must known "Holocaust") based on the memoirs of Martin Gray, a survivor, are a good movie, in particular for the reconstruction of the mechanism of genocide in extermination center of Treblinka, from which Martin escaped in 1942.
About the documentaries, still today Lanzmann is the masterpiece, not only for Shoah. Remaining in the very important argument of the jewish resistance, one another his great work, made in 2001, is "Sobibor, 14th october 1943, h 16" (Sobibor, 14 octobre 1943, 16h) about the escape from the Sobibor extermination camp with an important witness of the revolt and escape interviewed in Israel in the 70s. (https://www.librarything.com/work/7730576/details/195540412)
We are the Association of the Memorial of the Shoah in Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy, and in our institute we have also a very big video library, perhaps the second largest in Europe about the Holocaust and connected themes (we are cataloguing all here in Librarything, the database of videos are here: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/MemorialeSardoShoah/videoteca
We are working also for an enciclopedic publication in 2 volumes on cinema and Holocaust (first volume for documentaries and tv shows, the second for fictional movies of all genres), and until today we have catalogued for this work around 3000 fictional movies and around 1700 documentaries and tv shows about the holocaust.
For us, one of the best fictional movies about the Holocaust remain without doubts "Passenger" (Pasazerka) of Andrzej Munk, 1963 (https://www.librarything.com/work/19107157/details/138759375) a masterpiece, incompiuted cause the death of the director in a car crash in the same year, about the complex argument of feeling between victim and perpetrator in an extermination camp.
Also "For those i loved" (au nom de tous les miens) by Robert Enrico, 1983 (https://www.librarything.com/work/22734126/details/138692769; https://www.librarything.com/work/22734126/details/138693394 , the film is also a tv serial of around 8 hours that is also better than the must known "Holocaust") based on the memoirs of Martin Gray, a survivor, are a good movie, in particular for the reconstruction of the mechanism of genocide in extermination center of Treblinka, from which Martin escaped in 1942.
About the documentaries, still today Lanzmann is the masterpiece, not only for Shoah. Remaining in the very important argument of the jewish resistance, one another his great work, made in 2001, is "Sobibor, 14th october 1943, h 16" (Sobibor, 14 octobre 1943, 16h) about the escape from the Sobibor extermination camp with an important witness of the revolt and escape interviewed in Israel in the 70s. (https://www.librarything.com/work/7730576/details/195540412)
23labfs39
>22 MemorialeSardoShoah: Welcome and thank you for sharing not only particular film recommendations, but also your database. A wonderful resource!
24rocketjk
I just read in The NY Times about Ken Burns' new documentary series, “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” which will begin airing on PBS on Sept 19.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/arts/television/ken-burns-the-us-and-the-holo...
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/arts/television/ken-burns-the-us-and-the-holo...
25jessibud2
>24 rocketjk: - Thank you for this! I have set my self a personal challenge to watch as many Ken Burns documentaries as I can get my hands on, either via tv or my public library. This will be #22 for me! Looking forward to it. He always does such excellent, sensitive and thorough work. I have put it into my calendar!
** The article says it will begin on PBS starting on September 18, not 19, and will air over 3 nights.
** The article says it will begin on PBS starting on September 18, not 19, and will air over 3 nights.
26rocketjk
>25 jessibud2: Oh, wow. Sincere thanks for the correction.
27jessibud2
>26 rocketjk: - Did you catch the piece on CBS Sunday Morning this morning, the interview with Ken Burns and his partners, on why they made this doc?
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-america-failed-european-jews-during-the-holoca...
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-america-failed-european-jews-during-the-holoca...
28rocketjk
>27 jessibud2: I didn't, so thanks for posting that link.
29jessibud2
Just finished watching part 1 of Ken Burns documentary. Very powerful. There was much I did not know, among the facts and images that were, of course, familiar to most of us. I am not American so I was not necessarily familiar with the names of the American politicians (aside from the obvious) and the extent of the policies of the time, for example.
At around the 40 to 45 minute point, though, I noticed a very tiny clip, maybe 5 or 6 seconds, at most, that jumped out at me. It was not identified or notated but I recognized it as from a documentary I saw just a couple of weeks ago, called *Three Minutes: A Lenthening*, which was fascinating. It told the story of a short 3-minute bit of film, found in the basement of the grandfather of a man from the States. It was filmed by his grandfather, who had travelled to Poland on vacation in 1938. What the grandson did was donate it to the Holocaust Museum in Washington and they tried to find anyone who might be able to identify some of the people in the film. After 2 years of searching, they found 2 people and were able to identify several others in the film. I was stunned to find it in the Burns doc and wonder if it was notated in the credits at the end. They rolled by too quickly for me to tell. I may even borrow the dvd from the library once it becomes available, just to be able to pause it and see. Ken Burns is far too thorough to not cite his sources.
If you get a chance to find the short doc I saw, it is a really powerful peek into a lost part of history, a small Polish village, just before the Nazis came, when life there was still ok. I am not sure if this link with work but I hope it will:
https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/WebSales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=229832~fff311b7-cd...;
At around the 40 to 45 minute point, though, I noticed a very tiny clip, maybe 5 or 6 seconds, at most, that jumped out at me. It was not identified or notated but I recognized it as from a documentary I saw just a couple of weeks ago, called *Three Minutes: A Lenthening*, which was fascinating. It told the story of a short 3-minute bit of film, found in the basement of the grandfather of a man from the States. It was filmed by his grandfather, who had travelled to Poland on vacation in 1938. What the grandson did was donate it to the Holocaust Museum in Washington and they tried to find anyone who might be able to identify some of the people in the film. After 2 years of searching, they found 2 people and were able to identify several others in the film. I was stunned to find it in the Burns doc and wonder if it was notated in the credits at the end. They rolled by too quickly for me to tell. I may even borrow the dvd from the library once it becomes available, just to be able to pause it and see. Ken Burns is far too thorough to not cite his sources.
If you get a chance to find the short doc I saw, it is a really powerful peek into a lost part of history, a small Polish village, just before the Nazis came, when life there was still ok. I am not sure if this link with work but I hope it will:
https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/WebSales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=229832~fff311b7-cd...;
30cbl_tn
While I was cooking for Christmas, I watched "Miracle at Midnight" on Disney+, about the Danish people's rescue of Jews during the Holocaust. It covers similar ground to Number the Stars. The cast includes Sam Waterston and Mia Farrow.
32cbl_tn
>31 labfs39: I got a free membership with a new laptop!
33jessibud2
I just watched a brand new and truly excellent and inspiring documentary. It's called First to Stand: The Cases and Causes of Irwin Cotler. Cotler is a Canadian human rights lawyer. He took on the Natan Sharansky case in the 70's (Sharansky was a Russian *refusnik* who was imprisoned). Anyhow, that case became the model for all of Cotler's future cases, he said. He met with Gorbachev once and asked what had been the tipping point that convinced them to release Sharansky. Gorb. replied that with all the global attention, it became too expensive (I forget the exact words he used) to keep him there and it was in *their best interest* to release him. Cotler made that his mantra: to make all his cases become in the best interest of the oppressive govts to release the ones he was fighting to free.
Do you know the case of Bill Browder and his efforts to release Magnitsky, that ultimately resulted in the Magnitsky Act? Fascinating stuff, most of which I knew nothing about. I had to google to fill in my gaps though it was spelled out very well in this film. I think this was the Ontario debut of the film; it was made just last year. If you have any documentary film cinemas, or access to a Jewish Film Festival in your area, it may well be worth asking them to get hold of this doc. Mention it to them. It's an important film, now more than ever, as the entire world makes a sharp right turn, politically.
He touches also on Iran, Rwanda, among other hotspots for human rights abuses.
Here is a link. There is no preview trailer, unfortunately, but if you scroll down a bit, you can read more about it:
https://tjff.com/films/first-to-stand-the-cases-and-causes-of-irwin-cotler/
Do you know the case of Bill Browder and his efforts to release Magnitsky, that ultimately resulted in the Magnitsky Act? Fascinating stuff, most of which I knew nothing about. I had to google to fill in my gaps though it was spelled out very well in this film. I think this was the Ontario debut of the film; it was made just last year. If you have any documentary film cinemas, or access to a Jewish Film Festival in your area, it may well be worth asking them to get hold of this doc. Mention it to them. It's an important film, now more than ever, as the entire world makes a sharp right turn, politically.
He touches also on Iran, Rwanda, among other hotspots for human rights abuses.
Here is a link. There is no preview trailer, unfortunately, but if you scroll down a bit, you can read more about it:
https://tjff.com/films/first-to-stand-the-cases-and-causes-of-irwin-cotler/
34rocketjk
Not a film or documentary, but a note that my wife and I went to see Leopoldstadt at the Longacre Theatre in NYC last week. I thought it was mostly excellent, though a touch overwrought, especially at the end. There are many very, very good moments in it, and several extremely memorable characters. It's quite a good primer, as well, for anyone unfamiliar with the history.
35torontoc
I finally have gone back to seeing films at the Toronto International Film Festival- not as many as before the pandemic but a few.
"One Life"
United Kingdom
Directed by James Hawes.
This film related the story of Nicholas Winton and how he save 669 children from the Nazis. Winton was a stockbroker who travelled to Prague in 1938. He saw the wretched conditions that Jewish refugees were living in the city as they had fled from the Nazis. Winton returned to England worked with friends and his mother to bring Jewish children to the UK and matched with foster families. He managed to bring children on 8 trains to England, found foster homes for them and fundraised to support the demands of the British government. The story shows Winton( played beautifully by Anthony Hopkins) in the 1980's as he tries to find a home for his scrapbook detailing this work. No one knew this story of rescue and Winton was very modest.A British TV show united Winton with the children he had rescued. It is a very touching film showing the 1980's and 1938-9. What was so wonderful at the Q & A after the film was the surprise for the audience. The director introduced one of the children that Winton had saved
( now in her late 80's or early 90's) who was in the audience. As well there was a large group of people in the audience who were descendants of the children saved. They stood up and held up photos of the children who were their relations.
I recommend seeing this film!
"One Life"
United Kingdom
Directed by James Hawes.
This film related the story of Nicholas Winton and how he save 669 children from the Nazis. Winton was a stockbroker who travelled to Prague in 1938. He saw the wretched conditions that Jewish refugees were living in the city as they had fled from the Nazis. Winton returned to England worked with friends and his mother to bring Jewish children to the UK and matched with foster families. He managed to bring children on 8 trains to England, found foster homes for them and fundraised to support the demands of the British government. The story shows Winton( played beautifully by Anthony Hopkins) in the 1980's as he tries to find a home for his scrapbook detailing this work. No one knew this story of rescue and Winton was very modest.A British TV show united Winton with the children he had rescued. It is a very touching film showing the 1980's and 1938-9. What was so wonderful at the Q & A after the film was the surprise for the audience. The director introduced one of the children that Winton had saved
( now in her late 80's or early 90's) who was in the audience. As well there was a large group of people in the audience who were descendants of the children saved. They stood up and held up photos of the children who were their relations.
I recommend seeing this film!
36jessibud2
Oh! I want to see this! I will have to check the TIFF schedule! Thanks for the heads-up, Cyrel!
37labfs39
>35 torontoc: I have seen clips of that British television program and the reunification of rescuer and rescuee. Very moving. I too will try to see the film.
38torontoc
and my next film -seen yesterday
Irena's Vow
Canada/ Poland
Directed by Louise Archambault
This film is also taken from a true story-that of young Polish woman Irina Gut who saved over 12 Jewish men and women during the Nazis occupation of Poland. Irena was so upset over the brutality that she witnessed as Jews were being rounded up that she was determined to do something. After a year of forced work in a factory she was given job of overseeing the laundry and tailoring for the Nazi officers in her town. When she found out that all Jews working for the Nazis were going to be taken away, she planned to save those she worked with by hiding them. Irene was going to be the head housekeeper for a top Nazi officer in a large villa. She found a hiding place in the cellar and and managed to move them there. The film shows how she managed and how she eventually had this group moved to the forest and the partisans.She had a sacrifice to make for this to happen. It was a very gripping story. And the Q and A at the end of the film was very emotional. The actors were both Polish and French Canadian. ( They were able to be at the film opening as they did not belong to the American Actors' Union. ) Irena's daughter was there and as well a man who was the baby of two of the Jewish people who Irena saved. I also recommend this film as well.
Irena's Vow
Canada/ Poland
Directed by Louise Archambault
This film is also taken from a true story-that of young Polish woman Irina Gut who saved over 12 Jewish men and women during the Nazis occupation of Poland. Irena was so upset over the brutality that she witnessed as Jews were being rounded up that she was determined to do something. After a year of forced work in a factory she was given job of overseeing the laundry and tailoring for the Nazi officers in her town. When she found out that all Jews working for the Nazis were going to be taken away, she planned to save those she worked with by hiding them. Irene was going to be the head housekeeper for a top Nazi officer in a large villa. She found a hiding place in the cellar and and managed to move them there. The film shows how she managed and how she eventually had this group moved to the forest and the partisans.She had a sacrifice to make for this to happen. It was a very gripping story. And the Q and A at the end of the film was very emotional. The actors were both Polish and French Canadian. ( They were able to be at the film opening as they did not belong to the American Actors' Union. ) Irena's daughter was there and as well a man who was the baby of two of the Jewish people who Irena saved. I also recommend this film as well.
39kjuliff
There’s an interesting article about Holocaust films, some of which are based on books at Can the Holocaust Movie Be Revelatory Again? 3 Filmmakers Say Yes..
40labfs39
>39 kjuliff: Interesting article, thanks for sharing. I haven't seen any of these three films, have you? The lack of emotional delivery in two of the films makes me think of Fatelessness and the discussion we had around it early this year.
41kjuliff
>40 labfs39: No I haven’t seen any, but will when they are streamed. I tried to get the books some were based on, but none were available in audio yet.
I think there’s a need to have Holocaust films more relevant to the younger generation lest it fade from communal memory as those with living memories, pass on.
People of my generation are probably the last who saw the direct results; who knew people who were, or whose parents were, in concentration camps.
And yes, the descriptions of the new films reminded me of Fatelessness and the discussions we hade.
I think there’s a need to have Holocaust films more relevant to the younger generation lest it fade from communal memory as those with living memories, pass on.
People of my generation are probably the last who saw the direct results; who knew people who were, or whose parents were, in concentration camps.
And yes, the descriptions of the new films reminded me of Fatelessness and the discussions we hade.
42avatiakh
I haven't seen this but interesting story behind the film, 'Love gets a room'.
'In David Safier’s (the co-writer) research for one of his books (28 Days: a novel of resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto), he came across the play 'Love is looking for a flat' by Jerzy Jurandot. David discovered that there was a great cultural life in the Warsaw ghetto. Poetry recitals were held, music was played in cafés, and theatre was performed. And this play was very successful. David came up with a draft script that featured a group of actors who staged a play in the ghetto.'
https://festivalcinesevilla.eu/en/news/love-gets-room-rodrigo-cortes-warsaw-ghet...
'In David Safier’s (the co-writer) research for one of his books (28 Days: a novel of resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto), he came across the play 'Love is looking for a flat' by Jerzy Jurandot. David discovered that there was a great cultural life in the Warsaw ghetto. Poetry recitals were held, music was played in cafés, and theatre was performed. And this play was very successful. David came up with a draft script that featured a group of actors who staged a play in the ghetto.'
https://festivalcinesevilla.eu/en/news/love-gets-room-rodrigo-cortes-warsaw-ghet...
43labfs39
>42 avatiakh: That looks interesting. I can rent it from for 5 USD.
44jessibud2
We are in the middle of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival here right now. I haven't seen many but I have seen a few. Here are some links. Some may have trailers but if you scroll to the bottom, there should be a synopsis.
So far, I have seen:
999 - The Forgotten Girls of the Holocaust (author and filmmaker was in the audience and did a Q&A afterwards): https://tjff.com/films/999-the-forgotten-girls-of-the-holocaust/
Very interesting film and some of the families of the women in the film were actually in the audience as well. It reminded me in part of a book I read not long ago, Lily's Promise. Had a similar tone and theme. The filmmaker's talk after was really interesting in filling in the backstory of how she came to this story.
Alfred and Lucie Dreyfus: https://tjff.com/films/alfred-and-lucie-dreyfus-with-a-kiss-as-deep-as-my-love/ This was a very interesting film though I found the cinematography a bit *off* and odd.
Golda's War Diaries: https://tjff.com/films/goldas-war-diaries/
I was very happy that I watched this one online because the Hebrew was too fast for me to follow and at least I was able to pause, back up and rewatch. Of course there were subtitles but I always try to listen to keep my language skills (such as they are) fresh. This was a fascinating film.
I have one film left to see this coming week: Where is Anne Frank?
https://tjff.com/films/where-is-anne-frank/
I will report back after I see it.
There are many other films in the festival but I just don't have the energy to blitz and see more at the moment. Hopefully, some of them will come to theatres or my documentary theatre (if it survives; it's in dire financial straits at the moment but that's a whole other story)
So far, I have seen:
999 - The Forgotten Girls of the Holocaust (author and filmmaker was in the audience and did a Q&A afterwards): https://tjff.com/films/999-the-forgotten-girls-of-the-holocaust/
Very interesting film and some of the families of the women in the film were actually in the audience as well. It reminded me in part of a book I read not long ago, Lily's Promise. Had a similar tone and theme. The filmmaker's talk after was really interesting in filling in the backstory of how she came to this story.
Alfred and Lucie Dreyfus: https://tjff.com/films/alfred-and-lucie-dreyfus-with-a-kiss-as-deep-as-my-love/ This was a very interesting film though I found the cinematography a bit *off* and odd.
Golda's War Diaries: https://tjff.com/films/goldas-war-diaries/
I was very happy that I watched this one online because the Hebrew was too fast for me to follow and at least I was able to pause, back up and rewatch. Of course there were subtitles but I always try to listen to keep my language skills (such as they are) fresh. This was a fascinating film.
I have one film left to see this coming week: Where is Anne Frank?
https://tjff.com/films/where-is-anne-frank/
I will report back after I see it.
There are many other films in the festival but I just don't have the energy to blitz and see more at the moment. Hopefully, some of them will come to theatres or my documentary theatre (if it survives; it's in dire financial straits at the moment but that's a whole other story)
45jessibud2
Well, I saw Where is Anne Frank last night. I thought it was exceptionally well done, very creative and beautiful. Problem is, they screened a short before it, called *The Anne Frank Giftshop* which I felt was disgusting, disrespectful and in extremely poor taste. I am shocked and disappointed that the film festival would even choose such a disgraceful film to screen, at all.
Here is a blurb about the main feature:
In this bold retelling of Anne Frank’s diary, director Ari Folman (Waltz with Bashir) employs vivid animation to reinvent her story through a contemporary lens, linking the past and present. Magically coming to life, Anne’s imaginary friend Kitty searches the streets and discovers that while Anne’s name is preserved on buildings, her message is at risk of being lost.
website: https://www.whereisannefrank.com/en
And, completely coincidental to the fact that I watched it yesterday, today is Anne Frank's birthday and on one website I follow that publishes a quote from someone famous on their birthdays, this is the quote chosen for today. So eerily prescient:
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I don't believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone are guilty of the war. Oh, no, the little man is just as keen, otherwise the people of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There is an urge and rage in people to destroy, to kill, to murder, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated, and grown, will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again. -Anne Frank, Holocaust diarist (12 Jun 1929-1945)
Sadly, it seems that some things will never change...
Here is a blurb about the main feature:
In this bold retelling of Anne Frank’s diary, director Ari Folman (Waltz with Bashir) employs vivid animation to reinvent her story through a contemporary lens, linking the past and present. Magically coming to life, Anne’s imaginary friend Kitty searches the streets and discovers that while Anne’s name is preserved on buildings, her message is at risk of being lost.
website: https://www.whereisannefrank.com/en
And, completely coincidental to the fact that I watched it yesterday, today is Anne Frank's birthday and on one website I follow that publishes a quote from someone famous on their birthdays, this is the quote chosen for today. So eerily prescient:
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I don't believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone are guilty of the war. Oh, no, the little man is just as keen, otherwise the people of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There is an urge and rage in people to destroy, to kill, to murder, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated, and grown, will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again. -Anne Frank, Holocaust diarist (12 Jun 1929-1945)
Sadly, it seems that some things will never change...
46alcottacre
>44 jessibud2: >45 jessibud2: Thank you for posting about the films you have been watching, Shelley. I would love to be able to see them.
47jessibud2
Last night, I watched a documentary. I purchased my ticket to watch it at our JCC but in the end, I opted for an online viewing, from the comfort of home. It was a 2022 production and is called The Conspiracy. It was mostly done through animation (which was stark black and white and exceptionally well done) and interspersed with archival photos and some clips of live action historic footage. Narrated by Mayim Bialik, and voiced (in part) by Jason Alexander, Liev Schreiber - those were the names I recognized; there were others listed who I did not know - it mainly followed the history of Jewish persecution and anti-Semitism throughout history, focussing on 3 families in the modern era: the Warbergs, Dreyfus and Trotsky. I learned a lot that I had not known, although I thought I knew a lot as I have read extensively on this topic. What I found most disturbing, of course, was how eerily and consistently history seems to repeat itself, to this very day. How little we humans seem to have evolved to become better people. And how physically cold I felt throughout. The film ended with the pending sentencing of the killer responsible for the Tree of Life Synagogue mass murder in 2023.
48avatiakh
>47 jessibud2: That sounds really interesting. I'll have to watch it somehow, I think my son will be keen too.
49jessibud2
>48 avatiakh: - I hope you can find it. It was very well done.
50jessibud2
I saw another film today at our local Hot Docs cinema. It was, in fact, a double feature. the first was a short doc called 80 Faces of Freedom, where the filmmaker used still pictures of survivors, one from each of the last 80 years since WWII ended and used voice-over audio to represent their stories. The film was around 15 or 20 minutes long and well done.
The second was a full length film and was the one that really impressed me. It was called Neshoma ("which translates to: Breath, spirit, or soul in Hebrew. It signifies the life-giving force and divine inspiration that animates and sustains all living beings." What the filmmaker did here was create a story (fictionalized) from actual archival footage. The film was shot entirely in black and white, and the narrator was a voice-over, never seen, just heard, with the story unfolding as a series of letters she was writing to her brother, who, we learn, had moved to Indonesia (if they said why, I missed it but in the end it doesn't really matter). As children, they used to play chess together and she suggests playing in their letters, and so, ends each letter with her *play*. Her letters chronicle the goings-on and the slow changes in their city of Amsterdam from the mid-1920s leading up to WWII in the early 1940s.
There was a panel discussion and Q&A afterwards and the filmmakers of both films were there as well as a 94 year old survivor of the Holocaust (who was, obviously, a child back then. He looked excellent for his age, in very good health and participated well in the discussion). The filmmaker/director of Neshoma, Sandra Beerends, was asked about her method and choice of perspective for her film and she explained (she was the only one not here live; she participated via zoom), that she had read and seen so many survivor stories and wanted to focus on life BEFORE, on the day-to-day lives of the Jews of Amsterdam as they lived them. The narrative in the form of letters was a perspective that lent itself well to this aspect of story-telling, she thought. I have to agree. The archival footage of Amsterdam during that time period, the daily gossip, family dynamics and slow changes over the years, the time lapse between letters, and the lovely voice of the narrator, *Rusha*, just all worked so well together.
Here is the trailer:
https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/films/80-faces-of-freedom-with-neshoma?utm_source=eb...
What I felt was really important was how the panel, each of them, when asked about the lessons in their films, talked about how what these films both do (but especially the second one, in my opinion) is to sound the alarm to us today, as all around us in the world, small (and large) signs of fascism and anti-semitism and anti-immigrant sentiment are slowly presenting themselves. The message is to be alert and be aware. And act, before it's too late.
The second was a full length film and was the one that really impressed me. It was called Neshoma ("which translates to: Breath, spirit, or soul in Hebrew. It signifies the life-giving force and divine inspiration that animates and sustains all living beings." What the filmmaker did here was create a story (fictionalized) from actual archival footage. The film was shot entirely in black and white, and the narrator was a voice-over, never seen, just heard, with the story unfolding as a series of letters she was writing to her brother, who, we learn, had moved to Indonesia (if they said why, I missed it but in the end it doesn't really matter). As children, they used to play chess together and she suggests playing in their letters, and so, ends each letter with her *play*. Her letters chronicle the goings-on and the slow changes in their city of Amsterdam from the mid-1920s leading up to WWII in the early 1940s.
There was a panel discussion and Q&A afterwards and the filmmakers of both films were there as well as a 94 year old survivor of the Holocaust (who was, obviously, a child back then. He looked excellent for his age, in very good health and participated well in the discussion). The filmmaker/director of Neshoma, Sandra Beerends, was asked about her method and choice of perspective for her film and she explained (she was the only one not here live; she participated via zoom), that she had read and seen so many survivor stories and wanted to focus on life BEFORE, on the day-to-day lives of the Jews of Amsterdam as they lived them. The narrative in the form of letters was a perspective that lent itself well to this aspect of story-telling, she thought. I have to agree. The archival footage of Amsterdam during that time period, the daily gossip, family dynamics and slow changes over the years, the time lapse between letters, and the lovely voice of the narrator, *Rusha*, just all worked so well together.
Here is the trailer:
https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/films/80-faces-of-freedom-with-neshoma?utm_source=eb...
What I felt was really important was how the panel, each of them, when asked about the lessons in their films, talked about how what these films both do (but especially the second one, in my opinion) is to sound the alarm to us today, as all around us in the world, small (and large) signs of fascism and anti-semitism and anti-immigrant sentiment are slowly presenting themselves. The message is to be alert and be aware. And act, before it's too late.
51labfs39
>50 jessibud2: It sounds like a very interesting and timely panel. I would like to see Neshoma.
52jessibud2
I just purchased tickets to a bunch of films (9 in all) at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, which will begin June 12. Most of them have the online viewing option (my preference) but some are in person only and I will be attending one of those. I am not sure if these are available outside Toronto but here is the lineup:
https://tjff.com/lineup/
I see that Neshoma (the one I reviewed in >50 jessibud2:, is in the TJFF lineup as well.
Also, just found this free online film, airing May 27: The Devil's Confession - The Lost Eichmann Tapes:
https://gathr.com/events/83724241/the-devil-s-confession-the-lost-eichmann-tapes....
https://tjff.com/lineup/
I see that Neshoma (the one I reviewed in >50 jessibud2:, is in the TJFF lineup as well.
Also, just found this free online film, airing May 27: The Devil's Confession - The Lost Eichmann Tapes:
https://gathr.com/events/83724241/the-devil-s-confession-the-lost-eichmann-tapes....
53rocketjk
My wife and I saw an amazing movie last night, SHTTL (the e is purposely left out). It's the story of life in a Ukrainian Jewish village as the Nazi army masses on the Soviet border. I was going to post the trailer, but it's got too many spoilers in it. But here is the description on the production company's website:
https://www.menemshafilms.com/shttl
We saw the opening showing at a small New York City screening room called the New Plaza Cinema, and two of the leading actors were on hand for a Q&A afterwards. The movie has a flaw or two, but overall the writing, acting and cinematography are all outstanding.
https://www.menemshafilms.com/shttl
We saw the opening showing at a small New York City screening room called the New Plaza Cinema, and two of the leading actors were on hand for a Q&A afterwards. The movie has a flaw or two, but overall the writing, acting and cinematography are all outstanding.
54jessibud2
I have watched 2 documentaries in the last 2 days and one dramatization of a documentary. That last one was One Life, the story of Nicholas Winton, who saved over 600 Jewish children in WWII. I had seen the original documentary last year (Nicky's Family) but this one starred Anthony Hopkins as Winton and frankly, was just as powerful.
Last night, I watched a 2024 documentary film about Elie Wiesel on PBS' American Masters, called Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire. A combination of live interview clips, and black and white animation, this documentary recaps the life and legacy of Wiesel and how that legacy has had a ripple effect on various communities over the years. Not being American, myself, I was not aware of the issue with Ronald Reagan and his visit to a German cemetery where nazi soldiers were buried. Wiesel was filmed talking to Reagan and explaining to him why this was not ok, imploring him not to go. Wiesel was eloquent, calm, reasoned. Reagan seems to listen intently, and then explains how he thinks it IS ok to go. Geez.
One of the most moving parts of this film, for me, was the section where a lovely young Black teacher (in New Jersey, I think it was) had her class of 7th or 8th graders read and discuss Wiesel's *Night*. It jarred me more than I expected to hear the thoughtful and intelligent reactions and thoughts of those students about what it meant to them. And even more unexpectedly, how it resonates today, with what is happening in the USA with ICE (which, of course, they could not have imagined, when this film was made, just a year or so ago). More than one student talked about how they thought freedom meant to have choices, to be able to make choices about your own life and how in the Holocaust, the people had their choices taken away from them, for no reason other than the colour of their skin or their religion. From day one of the appearance of ICE, I have felt that what they were doing was nothing more than modern day pogroms, and I still can't understand how in this day and age, they are allowed to get away with it. Sadly, tragically, history repeats itself. And unless and until someone does stop it, it will only get worse. During the Holocaust, there was no precedent. Today, the lessons are there to be learned from, no excuses.
Then, this afternoon, I watched a 2018 documentary presented by our local JCC for Holocaust Remembrance Week, called Who Will Write Our History?. This film is based on the book of the same name written by Samuel D. Kassow. I have seen many Holocaust films, both documentary and non, but I think this was one of the most powerful. Because I watched it via an online link, I was able to stop and take notes. Good thing, there is a lot to digest here.
The film tells the story of a hidden archive in the Warsaw Ghetto, compiled by a small group of journalists and lay people, in the form of diaries of daily life, both before and after the ghetto was sealed. The leader of this group of archivists, Emanuel Ringelblum, realized that unless they documented and preserved what their daily lives were really like, all the world would know about the Jews would be from the nazi propaganda films. In 1942, Ringelblum managed somehow to send some of the archival material to the BBC in London, which broadcast what was going on, perhaps for the first time, to the world.
The archives included diaries, letters, photos, art, packed into boxes and were buried in 3 caches beneath the floor boards of apartments. In 1943, those remaining decided they would rather die fighting than die silently and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising happened, leaving the area flattened and in ruins (much like what the pictures we see today of what's left of Gaza). Of the original 60 members of this secret group of archivists, only 3 survived the war. It took a few years and thankfully, an aerial photo of the area to try to locate the apartments where the archives had been buried, but they did find 2 of the 3 caches. Almost everything survived intact, dirty, dusty but intact. One woman, Rachel Auerbach, later emigrated to Israel and in 1960, convinced Israel's State Prosecutor to allow and feature this survivor testimony in the trial of Adolf Eichmann.
More than 60,000 pages of archives are now preserved in the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw.
This film was incredible. Exceptionally difficult to watch, especially the parts of original nazi film footage. But so very important, especially, in my humble opinion, in light of the direction the trump administration is going. There is still time to do something, to stop him and his goons. I hope.
Last night, I watched a 2024 documentary film about Elie Wiesel on PBS' American Masters, called Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire. A combination of live interview clips, and black and white animation, this documentary recaps the life and legacy of Wiesel and how that legacy has had a ripple effect on various communities over the years. Not being American, myself, I was not aware of the issue with Ronald Reagan and his visit to a German cemetery where nazi soldiers were buried. Wiesel was filmed talking to Reagan and explaining to him why this was not ok, imploring him not to go. Wiesel was eloquent, calm, reasoned. Reagan seems to listen intently, and then explains how he thinks it IS ok to go. Geez.
One of the most moving parts of this film, for me, was the section where a lovely young Black teacher (in New Jersey, I think it was) had her class of 7th or 8th graders read and discuss Wiesel's *Night*. It jarred me more than I expected to hear the thoughtful and intelligent reactions and thoughts of those students about what it meant to them. And even more unexpectedly, how it resonates today, with what is happening in the USA with ICE (which, of course, they could not have imagined, when this film was made, just a year or so ago). More than one student talked about how they thought freedom meant to have choices, to be able to make choices about your own life and how in the Holocaust, the people had their choices taken away from them, for no reason other than the colour of their skin or their religion. From day one of the appearance of ICE, I have felt that what they were doing was nothing more than modern day pogroms, and I still can't understand how in this day and age, they are allowed to get away with it. Sadly, tragically, history repeats itself. And unless and until someone does stop it, it will only get worse. During the Holocaust, there was no precedent. Today, the lessons are there to be learned from, no excuses.
Then, this afternoon, I watched a 2018 documentary presented by our local JCC for Holocaust Remembrance Week, called Who Will Write Our History?. This film is based on the book of the same name written by Samuel D. Kassow. I have seen many Holocaust films, both documentary and non, but I think this was one of the most powerful. Because I watched it via an online link, I was able to stop and take notes. Good thing, there is a lot to digest here.
The film tells the story of a hidden archive in the Warsaw Ghetto, compiled by a small group of journalists and lay people, in the form of diaries of daily life, both before and after the ghetto was sealed. The leader of this group of archivists, Emanuel Ringelblum, realized that unless they documented and preserved what their daily lives were really like, all the world would know about the Jews would be from the nazi propaganda films. In 1942, Ringelblum managed somehow to send some of the archival material to the BBC in London, which broadcast what was going on, perhaps for the first time, to the world.
The archives included diaries, letters, photos, art, packed into boxes and were buried in 3 caches beneath the floor boards of apartments. In 1943, those remaining decided they would rather die fighting than die silently and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising happened, leaving the area flattened and in ruins (much like what the pictures we see today of what's left of Gaza). Of the original 60 members of this secret group of archivists, only 3 survived the war. It took a few years and thankfully, an aerial photo of the area to try to locate the apartments where the archives had been buried, but they did find 2 of the 3 caches. Almost everything survived intact, dirty, dusty but intact. One woman, Rachel Auerbach, later emigrated to Israel and in 1960, convinced Israel's State Prosecutor to allow and feature this survivor testimony in the trial of Adolf Eichmann.
More than 60,000 pages of archives are now preserved in the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw.
This film was incredible. Exceptionally difficult to watch, especially the parts of original nazi film footage. But so very important, especially, in my humble opinion, in light of the direction the trump administration is going. There is still time to do something, to stop him and his goons. I hope.
55rocketjk
>54 jessibud2: My wife and I saw the Elie Wiesel documentary last month, and I agree it's excellent and moving, and that the scene you point out in the classroom is particularly affecting. I read about Who Will Write Our History last year, I think, and I have been meaning to watch it. Your description here has reminded me to reprioritize it, so thanks.
56kjuliff
>55 rocketjk: I watched Who Will Write Our History online today. It’s excellent.
57jessibud2
>56 kjuliff: - Yes, I looked and saw that it was available online, but forgot to mention that in my post so thank you for doing that.
>57 jessibud2: - Parts of the film's narrative was done in re-enactment by actors but there were also some actual archival photos of the actual members of the *Oyneg Shabbos* group. That was their working code name for the work they were doing of collecting and archiving the diaries. I think this film was part of the TJFF (Toronto Jewish Film Festival) last year because the title was familiar to me but I didn't see it then, so I appreciated having the chance this time. As I said, difficult to watch but such an important piece of history. Invaluable, really.
>57 jessibud2: - Parts of the film's narrative was done in re-enactment by actors but there were also some actual archival photos of the actual members of the *Oyneg Shabbos* group. That was their working code name for the work they were doing of collecting and archiving the diaries. I think this film was part of the TJFF (Toronto Jewish Film Festival) last year because the title was familiar to me but I didn't see it then, so I appreciated having the chance this time. As I said, difficult to watch but such an important piece of history. Invaluable, really.
58GS_2013
Amazon Prime Video has a documentary titled "Baby Cages: The Denazification of Hitler Youth." I read and watch a lot about the Holocaust and WWII, but this is topic I had never considered. Come to think of it, I don't know much about the denazification of adults, either, but one of the main themes is that this camp put a lot emphasis on emotional support and in giving the kids a say in camp life as a way of introducing them to democratic processes.
The filmmaker is the daughter of a man who was a prisoner in this camp (he was, IIRC, 16 years old when he was there). He later learned French and became a professor of French literature; the doc has a lot of his reminiscences. It's in French, with English subtitles.
The filmmaker is the daughter of a man who was a prisoner in this camp (he was, IIRC, 16 years old when he was there). He later learned French and became a professor of French literature; the doc has a lot of his reminiscences. It's in French, with English subtitles.
