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Various Aspects of the Holocaust in Films and Documentaries
23 students from the District Economic-Gastronomical School Number 4 (Powiatowy Zespół Szkół Ekonomiczno-Gastronomicznych nr 4) in Oświęcim took part in the finale of the educational project organized by the International Center for Education About Auschwitz and the Holocaust.
The project was started in October of last year. Participants at the time took part in workshops in the national exhibits found at the Museum. In addition, participants took part in sessions devoted to film reviews and a number of lectures presenting the history of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp and the Holocaust.
The last stage of the project was a contest for the best review of a film or documentary dealing with the history of Auschwitz and Holocaust. A list of films reviewed by the participants will be presented later.
During the literary workshops, students learned the methods of writing reviews, their place in the world of journalism, their construction, and the reasons for their creation. They also learned the method of actively watching films: using selected fragments, they were introduced to the basics of creating a scene, building narratives, and how to use color in films.
ContestDuring the lectures on films, the young people became acquainted with particular topics from the history of the Auschwitz camp: during the first lesson they were presented with fragments of films that introduced them to the topic of Auschwitz and the Holocaust, for example, fragments of the Liberation of Auschwitz as well as the film “The Last Stage” (Ostatni etap). The second meeting was dedicated to Poles in Auschwitz. The students watched fragments of films, among them, one dedicated to the history of Kazimierz Piechowski and his fellow prisoner’s escape, presented in the film “Uciekinier” (The Runaway), as well as a documentary film by Michał Bukojemskieg “Najdłuższy apel” (The Longest Roll Call), in which testimony of former prisoners was used. The third meeting was about the fate of children in Auschwitz. The students were able to get to know, among others, the shocking film by Janusz Morgenstern “Ambulans” (Ambulance) and the moving history of Zinada Worobiowa and her son Gieńek, a former Auschwitz camp prisoner, who separated after the war and found each other after several years. The last meeting was dedicated to Auschwitz – as a place of forgiveness. The participants saw fragments of the film “Kornblumenblau” directed by Leszek Wosiewicz, a fragment of the documentary “Rabin Ohad” (Rabbi Ohad), showing the views of Rabbi Ohad, as well as the yearly meditation of the Polish Community of Peace at Auschwitz Memorial Site.
Among the reviews sent to the Center, three were chosen during the contest:
- Winner of first place for the review of the film “Uciekinier” was Przemysław Lubecki
- Winner of second place for the review of the film “Uciekinier” was Gabriela Osiecka
- Winner of third place for the review of the film “Dzieci Ireny Sendlerowej” was Joanna Syska
Two of the works were given special recogntion:
- Karolina Idziniak for review of the film “Ambulans”
- Patrycja Jekiełek for review of the film “Dzieci z rampy”.
- The review that garnered the first place will be published in the monthly magazine “Os”, published by the Museum.
