The Jewish Family Alliance (JFA) and Kutler Center hosted a screening of the 2023 documentary “UnBroken” during an installment of Cinema Sundays on Jan. 21. The screening was followed by a discussion in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The film “UnBroken”is directed by activist, artist and second-generation Holocaust survivor Beth Lane. It tells the story of the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who goes on a journey to find answers about the history of her mother, who was incarcerated and murdered at Auschwitz, and her six siblings who escaped Nazi Germany as young children.
Lane said “UnBroken” is a story of hope and aims to inspire viewers to combat antisemitism and show more kindness in their lives.
“My goal is that ‘UnBroken’ will offer its viewers an opportunity to strengthen the muscles of hope, compassion, empathy and love [while] collaborating with individuals of a variety of belief systems, ” Lane said. [This] may just add a stitch to the fabric of a more just society where everyone has kindness and courage in equal measure .”
Director of Kutler Center Jim Patterson said thisCinema Sunday screening was noteworthy because the documentary is centered around the Holocaust and honoring those who suffered.
“I am excited that we were able to show this film about an important story,” Patterson said. “To show an inspirational story about the Holocaust for Holocaust Remembrance Day was a special event for our community. I am so pleased that the Jewish Family Alliance was able to bring this film to HW.”
Michelle Geller (Alex Reisner ’26) said she was inspired to see the characters’ compassion for one another despite their difficult circumstances.
“The film was moving and an important reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust,” Geller said. “It gave hope to know that there were some good people at that time who tried to save others. I was especially affected by the scene where they used sticky notes to build their family tree, demonstrating how many future lives were saved by saving one family of children.”
Geller also said she is thankful that Lane made this film to acknowledge the bravery of those who saved people during the Holocaust.
“If [Lane] hadn’t made this movie, people wouldn’t know about the small acts of heroism that a few people took to save a family of children from the concentration camps,” Geller said.
