An emotional short documentary film Lydia's Story will premiere at the Fall 2014 New Jersey Film Festival at Rutgers University on Friday, October 5!

An emotional short documentary film Lydia’s Story will premiere at the Fall 2014 New Jersey Film Festival at Rutgers University on Friday, October 5!

Here is an interview I did with Lydia’s Story’s Co-Director Heather Fenyk:

Nigrin: In your new documentary film Lydia’s Story -- a moving documentary about Lydia Rohowich Zakrewsky, who recalls her girlhood in Belarus after the Nazis invaded in World War II – Lydia gets a chance to go back to her native village. Tell us a bit about your film and why you decided to make it.

Fenyk: Our documentary, Lydia’s Story, overviews the 20th Century experience of thousands of Belorussians by describing the life of Lydia Rohowich Zakrewsky. In the film Lydia, a long-time Milltown, NJ resident, recalls her girlhood in Belarus after the Nazis invaded in World War II, and mercilessly executed her family members and other villagers. Following her harrowing escape from Belarus, Lydia then recounts her dangerous trek across Germany in advance of the Red Army, her life in a refugee camp, her immigration to the US, and her eventual return visit to her native village. Our film is narrated by Lydia’s youngest son, Alex Zakrewsky, who co-wrote and directed the film as well.

Development of this documentary was a labor of love. It was initially developed as a way of preserving one family’s story as a legacy for children and grandchildren. As we worked on the film we realized that Lydia’s story of how she escape the fate of the more than 2,200,000 Belorusians who lost their lives due to Nazi invasion and WWII needed to be shared with a wider audience. Through Lydia’s recollections our film gives voice to a nation of people whose experiences have been largely eclipsed by other Diaspora stories and stories of genocide. Although the film will likely be of interest to historians and those who marvel in stories of human perseverance, we imagine the film will hold special appeal to the many mid-century Eastern European immigrant families whose ancestors shared with Lydia a similar life trajectory.

Nigrin: Can you tell us about how the film was put together?

Fenyk: Early in my marriage I began to get to know my Mother-In-Law, Lydia, by asking questions about Lydia’s early life in Europe. Alex had heard many of these stories while growing up, but several were new as well. We discussed the power of the stories and shared an interest in preserving them for future generations. But how to do that? Catching up with her high school friend Nan Bress over lunch one day in 2004 Heather and Alex heard about Nan’s film work for an Eastern Orthodox monastery in upstate New York and realized they had found the perfect partner for a film project. From there they created a list of questions to use to ask Lydia, and scheduled a series of video interviews for Nan to capture Lydia as she talked about her experiences. As the project developed and as the stories were pieced together in a timeline, Nan suggested that they work with an archivist who spent time in the National Archives to obtain footage -- many of it never before put on the big screen -- from 20th century Belarus.

Nigrin: Were there any memorable stories while you made this film or any other info about your film you can rely to our readers?

Fenyk: It was often difficult to complete the interviews with Lydia because of the emotional nature of the stories. Filming sessions often ended up with everyone in tears. The final sequence, which we call the “triumphant return,” was filmed by Alex when he accompanied his mother back to her home village in 1994. Alex calls it a “trip of a lifetime” for his mother - it was her first time back in half a century.

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A series of terrific short films will also be screened prior to Lydia’s Story on Sunday, October 5 at the New Jersey Film Festival.

Here is more info on this screening:

Prituri Se Plainata - Samantha Chandler (Forked River, New Jersey) This intriguing animation short was shot on the filmmaker’s i-phone. 2014; 2 min. With an introduction and Q+A session by Director Samantha Chandler!

Take It However You Like – Matt Riddle (Piscataway, New Jersey) A hilarious short film about a film festival in which the judges are faceless, the films are familiar, and the game is shrouded in doubt. 2014; 8 min. With an introduction and Q+A session by Director Matt Riddle!

Dunes Atlantic - Christopher Pettoni (Brooklyn, New York) In this touching short film, a middle-aged owner of a diner and a young drifter meet by chance and form an unlikely bond over the course of one night, as they wander the sidewalks and deserted dunes of the Jersey Shore. 2014; 15 min. With an introduction and Q+A session by Director Christopher Pettoni!

Love Express - Patrick Chen (Woodside, New York) Featuring stunning cinematography, and a captivating story, this short film takes place on the 7 train that runs from Manhattan to Queens. One night, returning home from the city, Ryan finds himself sitting across a mysterious and heart broken young woman. He takes a chance to reach out and console her. This sparks the question...who is she, and why is she weeping? In Mandarin Chinese, subtitled. 2014; 18 min. With an introduction and Q+A session by Director Patrick Chen!

She Wolf - Alex Topaller and Daniel Shapiro (Ridgewood, New Jersey) Feeling indirectly responsible for the death of a Hollywood actress, a celebrity photographer runs off into the wilderness, only to confront the actress again, as a shape shifter among wolves. 2013; 18 min. With an introduction and Q+A session by Directors Alex Topaller and Daniel Shapiro!

Lydia’s Story - Nan Bress (New Brunswick, New Jersey) A moving documentary about Lydia Rohowich Zakrewsky, who recalls her girlhood in Belarus after the Nazis invaded in World War II, and mercilessly executed her family members and other villagers. Following her harrowing escape from Belarus, Lydia then recounts her dangerous trek across Germany in advance of the Red Army, her life in a refugee camp, her immigration to the US, and her eventual return visit to her native village. 2014; 30 min. With an introduction and Q+A session by Producers Heather Fenyk and Alex Zakrewsky as well as Lydia Zakrewsky!

Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University,

71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick,
New Jersey
$10=General; $9=Students+Seniors; $8=Rutgers Film Co-op Friends

Information: (848) 932-8482; www.njfilmfest.com

Free Food courtesy of Jimmy Johns will be given out prior to this screening of the New Jersey Film Festival!