2.3.25
When Salvatore Trapani (art historian, author and the brains behind the project ‘Echoes of Hope’) first commissioned a piece of work from me to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, he suggested I focus on the theme of ‘empathy and hope’. This felt like a crucial theme to counter the darkness from the past and the darkness now seeping in and around us.
As Salvatore spoke, I immediately remembered a story mum once told me, when she was a teenager and a prisoner at Auschwitz. This story - ‘a message of hope even amidst the worst of humanity’ - seemed a perfect theme on which to make a short movie.
I also wanted to include mum as a beautiful and loving 101 year old woman, narrating her story. ‘Nearly at the end of my life, I’m willing to talk. Now It’s come a time, that I must relate our Holocaust times…’
It was important for me to focus on her attitude to life and her openness and joyful spirit. In spite of the war, or maybe because of the war, she rose above the tragedy of her past and celebrated every moment of life. She loved to dance; it was then that she felt she soared high above the earth like a bird. Dancing was cathartic and this was how she felt truly free.
I had a rough idea of how to structure the movie. But the most challenging part was how to illustrate the section where she narrates her experiences at Auschwitz. Do I leave all those sections blank? I was stuck, not knowing how to progress. And that’s when I turned to Benk, a multi talented young artist and teacher.
Benk helped dissect the audio of the Auschwitz frames on the timeline, so we could clearly see what needed to be filled in visually. At first we tried animation but I wasn’t satisfied. We then decided to act out the scenes using real-live people.
This led to a new issue. I needed a woman about 20 years old to act as mum. I also needed an older woman to act as mum’s mum, Cecilia. Benk and I decided that we would mostly film close-ups, revealing very little of the faces, so I didnt necessarily need to find ‘an older woman.’
My youngest son Gil has met a lovely young woman, Hima. I approached her and gently asked whether she was open to starring as a young version of mum at Auschwitz in a short movie I was working on. She had heard me tell some of mum’s stories before, so the topic wasn’t new. She agreed and I was thrilled.
Now I had to start searching again for someone to act as ‘mum’s mother’. Over Xmas/New Year 2024, a young couple, Helena and Satra from Belgium, were volunteering (wwoofing) at my place. The wwoofing deal is to provide around 4 hours work, 5 days a week. I thought of Helena - maybe part of her work at my place could be to act in the movie? She is a sensitive and thoughtful young woman, and could easily suit the role.
I approached her, asking if she could act as my grandmother arriving with mum to Auschwitz in 1944. I also explained that she would need to wear an old coat with a yellow star sewed onto it. I realised that it was not a simple request because of the current rise in hatred towards Jews, and I didn’t want her to encounter any online antagonism. An added point was that she would need to hold Hima's hand for an extended time during the filming. I suggested she think about it and get back to me the next day.
Happily for me, she agreed. Within a few days, these two wonderful young women, both not Jews, were acting as Jews - as my family - in the Holocaust.
💛
Art makes remembrance eternal.
The survivors die, and we all must pass, even the artists.
But their Art creates meaning and connection...
forever.
.
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