Uprising (2001) (TV)

Director:

Jon Avnet

Writers (WGA):

Paul Brickman (written by) and
Jon Avnet (written by)

Release Date:

4 November 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

They did the one thing the Nazis never expected. They fought back.

Plot:

Jews rise up in the Warsaw Ghetto against the Nazis in 1943.

Plot Keywords:

Nazi Retaliation | Ghettoization | Nazi Resistance | Holocaust | Jewish Culture

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Leelee Sobieski	...	Tosia Altman
Hank Azaria	...	Mordechaj Anielewicz
David Schwimmer	...	Yitzhak 'Antek' Zuckerman
Jon Voight	...	Maj. Gen. Jürgen Stroop
Donald Sutherland	...	Adam Czerniaków
Stephen Moyer	...	Simha 'Kazik' Rotem
Sadie Frost	...	Zivia Lubetkin
Radha Mitchell	...	Mira Fuchrer
Mili Avital	...	Devorah Baron
Eric Lively	...	Arie Wilner
Alexandra Holden	...	Frania Beatus
John Ales	...	Marek Edelman
Andy Nyman	...	Calel Wasser
Nora Brickman	...	Clara Linder
Jesper Christensen	...	Gen. Kruger
Cary Elwes	...	Dr. Fritz Hippler
Palle Granditsky	...	Dr. Janusz Korczak
Luke Mably	...	Zachariah Artenstein
Nadiv Molcho	...	Isaac Linder
Zuzana Barutova
Marian Amsler
Peter Rasez
Ben Crystal	...	Julian Wald
Andrej Hryc		(as Andy Hryc)
Brigitte Antonius
Itzhak Finzi
Gerd Böckmann		(as Gerd Bockmann)
Brigitte Karner
Daniel Hill	...	Mr. Linder
Silvana Veit
Iddo Goldberg	...	Zygmunt Frydrych
Dietrich Hollinderbäumer
Jan Kolenik
Miguel Herz-Kestranek
Konstanze Breitebner
Martin Mnahoncak
Juraj Rasla
Zoltán Gera
Tomas Mastalir
Alexander Strobele
Marcel Ochranek
Ella Jones
Michael Mehlmann		(as Michael Mehlman)
Marko Igonda
Andreas Patton
Martin Brambach
Joszef Csaljik
Monika Hilmerová
Eva Mária Chalupová
Wenanty Nosul
Michael Aichhorn
Sarabeth Tucek
Vlado Durdík		(as Vladimir Durdik)
Liam McKenna	...	SS Officer
Shane Connaughton
Rainer Frieb
Jan Fellmayer
Anton Lesser
Andreas Lust
Katharina Conwell
Benjamin Ziak
Nadja Krawetz
Tanja Krawetz
Martin Hronsky
Götz Spielmann
Veronica De Laurentiis
Marek Vasut
Georg Friedrich
Peter Dudas
Peter Faerber
Jamie Schock
Peter Vagac
Tomas Sotak
Ralph Turnheim
Hannes Gastinger
Jaroslav Mendel
Matej Landl
Vladimir Oktavec
Florentín Groll
Hanah Cunderlikova
Christoph Künzler
Pavel Landovský
Tom Keller
Claus Homschak
Nicholas Ofczarek

Directed by
Jon Avnet

Writing credits (WGA)
Paul Brickman		(written by) and
Jon Avnet		(written by)

Produced by
Jon Avnet	....	producer
Raffaella De Laurentiis	....	producer
Bill Haber	....	executive producer
Hester Hargett	....	co-producer
Jordan Kerner	....	producer
Lisa Lindstrom	....	co-executive producer
Marsha Oglesby	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Denis Lenoir

Film Editing by
Sabrina Plisco		(as Sabrina Plisco-Morris)

Casting by
Fritz Fleischhacker
Debi Manwiller
Richard Pagano		(as Rick Pagano)
Eva Stefankovicová
Lenka Stefankovicova
Sheila Trezise

Production Design by
Benjamín Fernández

Costume Design by
George L. Little

Makeup Department
Giannetto De Rossi	....	makeup department head
Vincenzo Mastrantonio	....	makeup artist
Alessio Pompei	....	hair stylist: John Avnet

Production Management
Hester Hargett	....	unit production manager
Milan Stanisic	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ben Burt	....	second second assistant director
Gerry Gavigan	....	first assistant director
Peter Palka	....	second assistant director: Slovakia
Paul Taylor	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Bara Barova	....	assistant to propmaster
Ron Downing	....	supervising property master
Alejandro Fernández	....	set designer
Massimo Petrolini	....	construction manager
Peter Balogh	....	set designer (uncredited)
Hrvoje Cernjak	....	assistant set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Troy Allen	....	sound editor
Bill Bell	....	sound editor
Beau Biggart	....	adr mixer
Sean Byrne	....	assistant sound editor
Tim Chilton	....	foley artist
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor
Mike Dickeson	....	sound editor
Mary H. Ellis	....	sound mixer
Kevin Fisher	....	sound editor
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer
Bob Goold	....	adr editor
G. Michael Graham	....	supervising sound editor (as Michael Graham)
Devon Heffley Curry	....	adr supervisor
Anton Holden	....	sound editor
Gary Macheel	....	sound editor
Adriane Marfiak	....	sound editor
Timothy Pearson	....	foley artist
Jill Schachne	....	foley artist (as Jill Sanders)
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer
David A. Smith	....	boom operator
Mark Steele	....	sound editor
Tim Terusa	....	sound editor
Lou Thomas	....	sound editor
Randal S. Thomas	....	sound editor (as Randy Thomas)
Scott A. Tinsley	....	sound editor (as Scott Tinsley)

Special Effects by
Trevor Wood	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Tom Capizzi	....	digital artist
Michael Clemens	....	digital compositor
Michael Clemens	....	visual effects coordinator
Daniel Aristoteles Collins	....	systems/operations: Rhythm & Hues
Chris Consani	....	digital matte painter: Rhythm & Hues
Shellaine Corwel	....	digital compositor
Carole Cowley	....	visual effects producer
Gus Duron	....	visual effects editor: Rhythm & Hues
Fortunato Frattasio	....	digital compositor
Walter Garcia	....	visual effects
Balázs Harmati	....	motion control operator
Douglas Harsch	....	visual effects
Jack Holland	....	art department assistant: Rhythm & Hues
Phil Holland	....	scanning & recording operator
Uel Hormann	....	2D visual effects supervisor
Bryan Park	....	visual effects editor: Digiscope
Janet Quen	....	digital effects compositor
Ron Simonson	....	visual effects supervisor
Serkan Zelzele	....	digital artist
Hrvoje Cernjak	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Brandon Craig	....	render supervisor (uncredited)
Todd Daugherty	....	render support: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging: THDX (uncredited)
Mitch Gates	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Kevin Tengan	....	systems administrator (uncredited)

Stunts
Martin Csiaki	....	stunts
Monika Fiserova	....	stunts
Vladimir 'Furdo' Furdik	....	stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunt coordinator
Peter Hric	....	stunts
Adam Kirley	....	utility stunts
Gustáv Kyselica	....	local stunt coordinator
Lubomir Misak	....	utility stunts
Dusan Prvy	....	stunts
Michael Sandala	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Aupetit	....	key grip
Emanuele Chiari	....	first assistant camera
Rocco Cottone	....	electrician
Denis Gaubert	....	second assistant camera
Rasto Gore	....	electrician
Tony Martin	....	second assistant camera
Fernando Massaccesi	....	gaffer
Goran Mecava	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Goran Mecava	....	steadicam operator
Jean-Philippe Pasquier	....	grip
Christopher Probst	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Sascha 'Sash' Seitz	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera
Sascha 'Sash' Seitz	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Riccardo Umetelli	....	first assistant camera
Nick Wall	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Tamás Kertész	....	extras casting: Hungary
Kelly O'Brien	....	casting assistant
Lenka Stefankovicova	....	casting assistant
Lenka Stefankovicova	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carlane Passman	....	assistant costume designer
Peter Ziak	....	wardrobe assistant
Viera Zvonarova	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Jacob Avnet	....	post-production assistant
Michael Hatzer	....	color timer
Uriah S. Lovelycolors	....	assistant editor
Dana B. Wilson	....	first assistant editor: avid

Music Department
Michael K. Bauer	....	associate music editor
Peter Breiner	....	conductor: source music
Johnny Caruso	....	music editor
Dina Eaton	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Mladen Cernjak	....	transportation coordinator
Adolf Nurschinger	....	period vehicle coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Michael Berenbaum	....	senior historian (as Dr. Michael Berenbaum)
Bob Corff	....	voice teacher
Marek Edelman	....	historical consultant
Goranka Greif-Soro	....	script supervisor
Israel Gutman	....	historical consultant (as Professor Israel Gutman)
Zeljko Hren	....	caterer
Peter Hric	....	horse master
Tomas Kelemen	....	assistant: Jon Avnet, Slovakia
Balázs Kovács	....	extras coordinator: Hungaria
Michael Lichtenegger	....	assistant production coordinator
Marek Mackovic	....	set production assistant
Hilde Odelga	....	production coordinator
Simha Rotem	....	historical consultant (as Simha 'Kazik' Rotem)
Doug Smith	....	electronic press kit
Simcha Stein	....	historical consultant
John Whatton	....	electronic press kit

Thanks
Deborah Aquila	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Avnet/Kerner Productions
• Brooklyn Films
• Raffaella Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2001) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Bodega Films
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Bros.
• Warner Home Video
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Rhythm and Hues

Runtime:

177 min | Finland:153 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Canada:14A (video rating) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Bratislava, Slovakia

Company:

Avnet/Kerner Productions

Trivia:

Adam Czerniakow went to the gangster to get final money to pay the ransom. The gangster "house of ill repute" was at address Mila 18 - this was a reference to the Leon Uris story also of the Ghetto uprising.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When the "German" soldiers are marching into the ghetto they count to four in Russian.

Quotes:

Yitzhak 'Antek' Zuckerman: Instead of opposing the Germans you leave the fates in their hands?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Paper Clips (2004)

Despite the many flaws, this is an enjoyable series

WWII, and the Holocaust in particular, is a very interesting subject. There has probably never been more interest from the public towards everything that concerns this war, which started already more than 65 years ago. Every week new books, documentaries,... are published with new theories, with evaluations of some important (often Nazi) personalities, with information about the concentration camps,... Because most of the survivors have already died or will die soon, the stories of the last eye-witnesses will get lost if not registered on tape or camera. But all these stories are also a good base for movies and mini-series like this "Uprising".

"Uprising" tells the story of the Nazi oppression of the Jews in the Ghetto of Warshaw and their rebellion against it, which started in 1943. It all begins in 1939 with the growing list of prohibitions and regulations leading to the virtual imprisonment of about half-a-million Polish Jews in an old district of Warsaw. Their daily struggle against hunger and disease is made even worse when the Nazis demand for "deportations to the east". Many begin to suspect that the deportation of these groups of laborers are actually camouflaged mass murders and at the end of 1942 they start to realize that they are all doomed. They decide that, if they have to die, they better die in honor by taking up the arms against their oppressors. They start building hidden shelters and bunkers in the basements and cellars of the buildings, often with tunnels leading to other buildings and start collecting arms and ammunition for the battle which will begin on 19 April 1943...

Even though I must say that overall I liked the series, I can't say that it was always very convincing. There were a couple too many problems with it that really bothered me. One for instance is the way all the people are depicted. The heroic Jews don't have to expect any help from the arrogant and anti-semitic Polish Catholics who know exactly what is going on, but don't care. The Poles only want to help when offered enormous amounts of money and even then are very reluctant. In reality the Poles also suffered a lot under the German oppression and without their help there would probably never have been a Jewish Uprising. And no, I'm not a Pole myself, so I'm not saying this to justify my people's actions, it's just the way it was.

Another thing that I really didn't like was the use of the languages. The Germans speak English most of the time, except for when they are giving some short orders, than you'll hear them talk German. The producers and director have to make a choice, either they all speak German or English, but not a mix of the two. And about the language I also have another remark. Can someone please tell me why those purely American actors, who all know how to speak normal English, speak with that funny, but also incredibly annoying accent? Do they really believe I will not recognize Leelee Sobieski, David Schwimmer,... when they talk in a slightly different way? I'm not asking that they speak Polish, I'm sure they can't, but don't make a fool out of yourself by trying to convince people that you are talking another language, just by adding such an accent, it can never work...

Still, even though the series isn't always historically accurate, uses a range of annoying accents and is too stereotypical when it comes to the roles of the different people, not everything about it was that bad. The acting for instance is good. In my opinion this was the best role I've ever seen Leelee Sobieski play and all the other actors did a nice job too. I certainly liked Jon Voight as Major General Jurgen Stroop, but it is Cary Elwes, who played Fritz Hippler (the director of "Der Ewige Jude" or "The Eternal Jew"), who certainly deserves to be mentioned as well.

All in all this isn't a bad series. If you try to see it as a drama based on actual events, rather than to see it as a 'documentary reconstruction', than you certainly should be able to enjoy it. There are some nice action scenes, some good acting and other interesting features. You just will have to try to see past some major flaws... I give this series a score between 7/10 and 7.5/10.