Review of Shanghai Ghetto

I had the pleasure of attending one of the first NYC screenings last night and attending a Q&A afterwards with the filmmakers. The film moves slow at times, using much footage and interviews from those who escaped Nazi occupation by fleeing to Shanghai. The survivors speak of their family, friends and their experiences as if it were yesterday remarking stories with countless details.

My father was one of the people originally interviewed for the film, although his tale did not make it past the editing room floor. Imagine my surprise though when images of people were shown and there right in front of my eyes was a young picture of my grandmother! Apparently she was close friends with the mother of one of the men interviewed.

Overall, while the story of the Holocaust has been retold before, never has it been shown from this most personal perspective. The filmmakers followed two of the survivors as they traveled back to Shanghai many years later to see the homes they left so long ago. This is a pilgrimage that only a handful have made as this is a reminder of a most painful time in their past.

I urge you to see this film and to encourage other new filmmakers to be daring and take a chance and tell their story. Much luck to Dana & Amir!