Survival & Memory:
What Decent People do in Times of Crisis
Three films by award winning director Jacky Comforty
APRIL 21-30, 2017
IN THE SHADOW OF MEMORY
A one-hour documentary film about on-going struggles of children and grandchildren to come to grips with Nazi horrors suffered by their elders. The film focuses on Jerri Zbiral, the daughter of a survivor of the Nazi destruction of the Catholic village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia. Even though Jerri was born after the war, her mother’s stories continue to have a profound effect on her life. The 50th anniversary of the Lidice massacre provides a back-drop for Jerri to speak with women who survived the ordeal, with German visitors to the memorial ceremony and with others.
…a powerful teaching tool on the effects of Nazi terrorism on succeeding generations. By demonstrating how prejudice and bigotry does not by itself diminish with the passing of time, the tragic story of Lidice is a legacy for all people…The fact that the film deals with a non-Jewish incident, the impact of evil on children and subsequent generations is one which must be communicated to a mass audience.”
– Karen Friedman, Director, ADL Braun Holocaust Institute
THE OPTIMISTS
How were 50,000 Bulgarian Jews saved from the Holocaust despite the intense efforts of their government to deport them? The Optimists tells the dramatic story of how people of all ethnic backgrounds and religions at the eleventh hour, secured the safety of their Jewish neighbors.
The Optimists is a wonderful film. The title refers not only to a Bulgarian jazz band, but to how the audience feels after watching such a moving testament to human decency.”
– Annette Insdorf, author of Indelible Shadows: Film and the Holocaust
BALKAN JAZZ
The life story and music of Niko Nissimov and his Jewish friends, pioneers of Jazz music in Bulgaria. The movie charts the rise of their band Jazz of The Optimists to stardom in the late 1930s. The beginning of WWII changed everything for them as Bulgaria joined the Axis powers. Anti-Jewish laws and restrictions brought the band to a halt. All Jewish men were drafted to slave labor camps, and the entire community was on the verge of extinction. Niko was saved by his friends at the last minute from a transport destined for the death camp of Treblinka.
This testimony to friendship and the human spirit is told by Niko Nissimov, his brother Harry Nissimov, band mate, David Eskin, and his Bulgarian friend and rescuer Anton Kirilov. The rich soundtrack is layered with original music recordings by The Optimists. The private documents, photo albums, and archival footage are the backdrop of this amazing story of creativity, adventure, and endless optimism facing of impossible odds.
Fri April 21
In the Shadow of Memory 7pm @ IU Fine Arts Theater Q&A w/filmmaker
The Optimists 8pm @ IU Woodburn Hall Theater Q&A w/filmmaker
Sat April 22
In the Shadow of Memory 7pm @ IU Fine Arts Theater Q&A w/filmmaker
Balkan Jazz 8pm @ IU Woodburn Hall Theater Q&A w/filmmaker
Sun, April 23
In the Shadow of Memory 5:30 @ Bear’s Place Q&A w/filmmaker
Balkan Jazz 7:45 @ Bear’s Place Q&A w/filmmaker
Fri April 28
In the Shadow of Memory 7pm @ IU Fine Arts Theater
The Optimists 8pm @ IU Woodburn Hall Theater
Sat April 29
In the Shadow of Memory 7pm @ IU Fine Arts Theater Q&A w/filmmaker
The Optimists 8pm @ IU Woodburn Hall Theater Q&A w/filmmaker
Sun, April 30
The Optimists 5:30 @ Bear’s Place
Balkan Jazz 7:45 @ Bear’s Place