I saw this film at the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. Mr. Friedman-Petrasek was present for the screening, and answered questions afterward. Like another writer, I was struck by the possible parallel to "Defiance." By contrast with that film, I was particularly impressed with the evenhanded honesty with which the story was told. In particular, the way in which the Slovak partisans were NOT presented in a romanticized heroic light.
The film is beautifully shot on location in Slovakia. The production quality gives no hint of a limited budget, though I can't imagine that the producers had a lot of money to play with.
The tragedies of the Slovak Jews, including many members of Mr. Friedman's family were well told, if familiar to someone like myself who has seen many Holocaust tales. But most tales of the resistance are overtly heroic affairs.
* * * SPOILER * * *
However, here the partisans hiding out in the mountains are a distinctly rag-tag group. The first time Martin gets a chance to shoot at a German, the Russian commander of the partisans tells him to hold his fire until the car passes, because he's spied a wild boar that can provide them with food. "Shoot the pig" he orders.
There are many other incidents in which the practical need to survive takes precendence over idealism or honor. These men are not saints. Some of them are not even decent, they're just allied against the Germans. Russians are in command, and a another soldier is very possibly a German army deserter. Anti-Semitism is prevalent, and Martin decides it is best to keep his Jewish heritage a secret, which as it turns out, is a very good idea.
Yet, despite the serious shades of gray, this is a hopeful story. Martin stumbles at a number of turns, but survives. His is an honest story of hope and determination. There are few enough films coming out of Slovakia these days, and this is a very good one. I greatly enjoyed the film, and I hope it will prove successful for the talented team that created it.
The film is beautifully shot on location in Slovakia. The production quality gives no hint of a limited budget, though I can't imagine that the producers had a lot of money to play with.
The tragedies of the Slovak Jews, including many members of Mr. Friedman's family were well told, if familiar to someone like myself who has seen many Holocaust tales. But most tales of the resistance are overtly heroic affairs.
* * * SPOILER * * *
However, here the partisans hiding out in the mountains are a distinctly rag-tag group. The first time Martin gets a chance to shoot at a German, the Russian commander of the partisans tells him to hold his fire until the car passes, because he's spied a wild boar that can provide them with food. "Shoot the pig" he orders.
There are many other incidents in which the practical need to survive takes precendence over idealism or honor. These men are not saints. Some of them are not even decent, they're just allied against the Germans. Russians are in command, and a another soldier is very possibly a German army deserter. Anti-Semitism is prevalent, and Martin decides it is best to keep his Jewish heritage a secret, which as it turns out, is a very good idea.
Yet, despite the serious shades of gray, this is a hopeful story. Martin stumbles at a number of turns, but survives. His is an honest story of hope and determination. There are few enough films coming out of Slovakia these days, and this is a very good one. I greatly enjoyed the film, and I hope it will prove successful for the talented team that created it.
