Holocaust Witness Documentary Comes To Bedford Playhouse

BEDFORD, NY — More than 80 hours of interviews with Holocaust survivors, conducted by Lawrence L. Langer, an authority on Holocaust testimonies, were locked in a metal closet for decades and were never seen by the general public. Now they have been thrust into the spotlight with the documentary film "Soul Witness, The Brookline Holocaust Witness Project." In 2017, the film sold-out at the Coolidge Corner Theatre’s main playhouse in Brookline, Mass.

A special screening of the film will be shown at the Bedford Playhouse at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1.

The documentary features a collection of interviews of Holocaust survivors, conducted in the early 1990s. Witnesses describe their lives before the war, with the growing intolerance, their lives during the war and the affect their experiences still had on them at the time of the interviews. Some of these witnesses survived death camps, some hid, and others fought in resistance movements and many saved the lives of others.

Mark Skvirsky, vice president and chief programming officer or Facing History and Ourselves, said that the film is important for the stories that the survivors share.

"But also for the way their voices are presented," he said. "The structure and tone of the film 'humanizes' these individuals who might otherwise be perceived simply as victims."

Following the film, there will be a question-and-answer period with the film’s writer, director and producer R. Harvey Bravman.

Bravman said that the interviews contain some of the most epic and noble words he has ever heard.

"The stories and lessons from those who survived this unimaginable tragedy and who bravely shared their experiences 25 years ago provide an important message for our society. In many cases, they talk directly about issues of intolerance, racism and genocide, as well as their immigrant and refugee experience,” he said.

The documentary is intended for a general audience, with an advisory for children under 13.

Supporters of the film include the Facing History and Ourselves and the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies.

A link to purchase tickets can be found here.

More information on the film can be found by visiting this website.

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Photo credit: Submitted.