The Jews of Warsaw
Dedicated to the inhabitants of Jewish cities, villages and shtetls which exist no more…
“The touching documentary about the history of Warsaw Jews.” – Jiddele. Jewish Open Magazine. Poland
“The first documentary in the world about the past Jewish Life in Warsaw.” – Dos Jidisze Wort. Poland.
Trailer of the documentary:
The purpose of this documentary is to present the vibrant life, people and culture of the Jewish community in Warsaw for the 1,000 years leading up to the pre-World War II period, to the extermination of Warsaw Ghetto, to Janusz Korczak`s last days. The film examines historical sites and the world of Polish Jewry. Historical documentary includes black & white and color sequences divided into five acts: Aleph – History, Bet – Faith, Gimmel – Theater, Daleth – Growing-up, He – concern. Every act shows a different aspect of life. Historical footage is intertwined with contemporary pictures of the same places. Many of the pictures are popular and were obtained from archives; however, some are unknown and include unique footage such as the veterans of the Polish – Russian war from 1920. The veterans are shown in front of the Great Synagogue on Tlomackie Street with the chief rabbi of the Polish Army, Colonel Steinberg, who was killed with Polish and Jewish officers at Katyn in 1941. Historical pictures are accompanied by a commentary and help illustrate facts and the content of the film.
The Jews Of Warsaw is Strehlau`s full lenght documentary debut.
Dur: 38 min.
Prod: May 1997 / Digital remastered 2001.
Script and directory: DANIEL STREHLAU
Prod: The Windows Film Studio Daniel Strehlau
sponsors:
THE STEFAN BATORY FOUNDATION
THE RONALD S. LAUDER FOUNDATION
The Jews of Warsaw as well as the documentary Hanukkah, a Double Time is independent productions produced thanks to private sponsors as well as my own budget. The documentaries had a lot of screenings in Poland and in USA. Since the premieres, both films are working for good relations between the Polish and Jewish peoples, whose history is connected over about one thousand years.
Both films have been broadcast by TVP Polish State Television, screened worldwide via satellite, and shown at universities and Jewish cultural centers across the U.S., including private screenings for Pope John Paul II, Prime Minister Shimon Peres, President George W. Bush, Prof. Shevah Weiss, and Irvin Kershner (The Empire Strikes Back). Strehlau received appreciation and congratulation letters from them.
The Fifth Jewish Video Competition organized by Judah Magnes Museum, honored The Jews of Warsaw in Berkeley, California, May 1998.
