Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of France's "Rafle du Vel d'Hiv" - July 16th

Menemsha Films is proud to introduce the film La Rafle (The Roundup) to U.S. audiences. This acclaimed French epic, starring Mélanie Laurent and Jean Reno, depicts the true story of France's infamous Vel d'Hiv roundup, when the Jews of Paris were rounded up by French police and sent on a road with no return.

In the summer of 1942, French police carried out an extensive raid on Jews in greater Paris, resulting in the arrest of more than 13,000 people — including 4,000 children. After spending several miserable days in the Vélodrome d’Hiver stadium at the apex of summer with little food or water, families were deported to internment camps elsewhere in France and then, finally, to Auschwitz. With it’s emotionally astute and sensitive exploration of a long taboo subject in France — Jacques Chirac issued a public apology to the citizens of France only in 1995 — the raid, its political backdrop and the exquisite and poignant beauty of Paris during war time are brought to stirring life in writer-director Rose Bosch’s new French cinema classic.

July 16th, 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of these tragic events. We invite you to learn more about the "rafle du Vel d'Hiv", to remember both the great atrocities and incredible kindness which we are capable of inflicting upon and fostering in one another.

Click here to read a personal letter to U.S. audiences from writer/director Rose Bosch.

Actress Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds), Writer-Director Rose Bosch and Producer Alain Goldman will present La Rafle in person this week at two special U.S. screenings; first at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial in Washington D.C. this Wednesday, July 18th, followed by the JCC of Manhattan in New York City on Thursday, July 19th. Details on the DC screening can be found here.

La Rafle opens August 10th in Portland, OR and October 5th in New York City, with more cities to follow. Learn more about La Rafle, including the latest U.S. release information, at the film's website.