This is an excellent historical - visual and aural - documentary of the Jewish people of eastern Europe, but primarily Poland, during the years between World Wars I and II. The film captures the village and city lives of the Polish Jews during this time, their families, culture, languages (Yiddish, Hebrew, etc.), politics, hardships, accomplishments, dreams, and desires. It represents a portion of European (and international) history of 3.5 million people of which only 250 thousand (seven percent) survived Hitler's Germany. The film is supplemented throughout with interviews with several men and women who lived as children during this period. They share their memories, songs, language, and assessments of their Jewish lives, families, relatives, and communities. The film also illustrates not only their allegiance to their Jewish faith but, at the same time, in many cases their strong, patriotic feelings and loyalty to their country whether it be Poland, Russia, Germany, or Austria.
2 Reviews
Sensitive documentary
lor_1 January 2023
"Image Before My Eyes" is an informative documentary record of a lost civilization -Polish Jews between the two world wars. Basically upbeat presentation deals with the decimation by the Nazis only in the fourth and final segment of the pic (titled "Darkening Clouds"), as only about 250,000 of a population numbering 3,500,000 survived World War II.
Director Josh Waletzky includes talking heads interviews with a dozen or so survivors, but relies mainly on evocative home movie footage of Poland in the '30s, supplemented by still photos and newsreels. Portrait of family life and the look of cities and villages unfolds, fleshed out by the oral history voiced-over by interviewees. Progressive methods of education within the parallel Yiddish schools are documented as well as the multitude of splinter parties within the Jewish community, from Zionist to anti-Zionist and including various trade union and socialist entities.
General impression is of an evolving but highly traditional culture, coexisting despite pogroms and general discrimination general to the Polish nation. Dina Abramowicz displays a serene photo of her family in Vilna in August, 1939, which indicates the surprise nature of the Nazi terror to come shortly thereafter.
"Image Before My Eyes" emphasizes the positive, with smiling faces, sentimental Yiddish songs and happy recollections of a bygone era.
My review was written in March 1981 after a Times Square screening.
Director Josh Waletzky includes talking heads interviews with a dozen or so survivors, but relies mainly on evocative home movie footage of Poland in the '30s, supplemented by still photos and newsreels. Portrait of family life and the look of cities and villages unfolds, fleshed out by the oral history voiced-over by interviewees. Progressive methods of education within the parallel Yiddish schools are documented as well as the multitude of splinter parties within the Jewish community, from Zionist to anti-Zionist and including various trade union and socialist entities.
General impression is of an evolving but highly traditional culture, coexisting despite pogroms and general discrimination general to the Polish nation. Dina Abramowicz displays a serene photo of her family in Vilna in August, 1939, which indicates the surprise nature of the Nazi terror to come shortly thereafter.
"Image Before My Eyes" emphasizes the positive, with smiling faces, sentimental Yiddish songs and happy recollections of a bygone era.
My review was written in March 1981 after a Times Square screening.
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