‘Glimpses’ Documentary Film Event October 2007

Frankie Pinch

With the support of a ‘Festivals and Events’ grant from Victorian Multi-cultural Department, JHC recently hosted ‘Glimpses’ a highly regarded documentary film event. Screened in the Centre’s theatrette, the event provided three sessions of Holocaust documentary film on Monday 22nd October, from morning till night.

‘Glimpses’ morning session commenced with a short documentary film about the JHC by New Zealand filmmaker Michelanne Forster which revealed the resolute mission of the Melbourne survivor community who actively continue as volunteer guides at the Centre, tenaciously teaching the lessons of the Holocaust. The session also featured visiting documentary film maker Willy Lindwer (sponsored by Bank Leumi) who introduced ‘Goodbye Holland’ - one of 34 documentaries to his credit - which highlighted the plight of the Jews in Holland during WWll and tragically traced the steps of Lindwer’s own family. The film controversially revealed the biting anti-semitism and knowing compliance of Dutch authorities in the deportation of over 100,000 people which represented over 78 percent of the pre-war Jewish communities of Holland.

The afternoon session was a screening to a near full-house of the popular Hollywood-produced documentary ‘I Have Never Forgotten You’, the Nicole Kidman narrated film of the incredible life of Simon Wiesenthal.

The evening program themed ‘Righteous Saviours’ was a cosponsored event of the Child Survivors Group which majestically brought to the JHC screen for the first time, ‘A Teaspoon for Life’ – the story of Polish woman Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 children from the threat of certain death by removing them to safety from the Warsaw Ghetto. Now aged 97, Irena was nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for her acts of humanity despite great personal risk. Sue Hampel, Director of March of the Living and participant Ellie Brajtberg, spoke about their remarkable encounter with Irena while in Poland this year. The second and no-less stirring film account was ‘The Power of Good’ documenting the heroic actions of Englishman Nicholas Winton, who as a young 27-year-old stockbroker, personally arranged for the transportation of 670 children from Prague to safe-houses in England. Also now aged 97, the modest Winton maintains that ‘There is nothing that can’t be done if it is fundamentally reasonable’. The film revealed how Winton’s wife accidentally stumbled across her husband’s diaries 50 years after the heroic events and it was only then that his righteous acts were discovered. The Child Survivors group, in closing the session, paid tribute to these two and other ‘Righteous Saviours’ with Henri Korn, head of the group, sharing his own story. For all who attended and supported ‘Glimpses’, it was a memorable and meaningful day of documentary film at JHC.

April Film Screenings

‘Glimpses’ acted as the precursor to ‘Holocaust as Moving Image’ which will present screenings of Holocaust film across various genres over several days in April 2008. The event will feature archival, contemporary and award winning local and international films on the subject of the Holocaust. The Centre is currently seeking film submissions, partners, sponsors and volunteers for the event. Expressions of interest can be directed to Frankie Pinch, Liaison and Special Projects Manager. Email: FrankieP@jhc.org.au