As Seen Through These Eyes Reviews (1)

A Memorable Kristallnacht Commemoration

Jewish Free Press

The Calgary Jewish community's Kristallnacht commemoration this year created a dramatic, memorable moment when one of the subjects of a Holocaust film almost literally walked out of the film and live onto the bema of Beth Tzedec Synagogue.

It happened right after the screening of the film "As Seen Through These Eyes," by Los Angeles director Hilary Helstein. This moving documentary about how some Holocaust survivors used the power of art to fight back against their Nazi oppressors, incorporated some archival footage of the Holocaust. Included were two scenes of the same skinny Jewish child - one in which we see his pensive face; the other in which we see him roll up his sleeve to show his concentration camp tattoo.

Following the film and after a discussion with the audience, suddenly the "youth" in those archival photos -Morris Dancyger - suddenly strode up to the platform with Hilary Helstein.

Helstein was visibly stunned and the audience of 650 were gasping as they realized the significance of the event they were witnessing.

Helstein, who has worked extensively in Holocaust documentation with the Spielberg Foundation, and who directs the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, said later she was absolutely shocked and honoured to be part of such an event. She spent Monday evening at the home of Morris and Ann Dancyger where she heard more of the family's stories.

The footage of Morris Dancyger, it turns out, was taken in January 1945 by the Russian Army as it liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Of course, the event was not an accident but carefully planned by Harvey Cyngiser, director of the Beth Tzedec Jewish Film Festival. He has always known about the archival footage of Morris Dancyger and when he spotted it in Helstein's film, "As Seen Through These Eyes," he knew he had to bring the two together.

That touching moment, coupled with the quality of Helstein's film and the other commemorative aspects that evening combined to make a powerful statement about Holocaust memory upon the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of violence against Jews in Germany which is said to have been the start of the Final Solution.

The event was a partnership between the Beth Tzedec Jewish Film Festival and the Holocaust Education Committee of Calgary Jewish Community Council. The organizers ensured that bus transportation was available so that members of the Russian-Jewish community in Calgary could attend the event.

Lighting commemorative candles that evening were Fanny Lewin and Sonja and Marina Litwack; Rachel Warrick and Tricia Bezzeg; Fira Ous satin ski and grandsons; Freda and Tamara Plucer; Jenny Serpa and Corbin Staniloff; and Benny, Larry and Chaim Katz.

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