New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Power Story Ent., Inc. has recently released "Making Light in Terezin" which tells the true story shows how Jewish prisoners in the Terezin Ghetto in the Czech Republic managed to survive during WWII with the help of song, dance, theater and comedy. This poignant and moving documentary follows a modern day theater troupe as they journey to the Czech Republic to do a comedic cabaret piece for the first time in 70 years in the very same attic venue it was first performed in during WWII.
"Making Light in Terezin," titled for the double entendre of making light through laughter and arts in the darkness of prison and making light through humor, is an 87-minute documentary. It includes interviews with several Holocaust survivors who reflect upon their imprisonment in Terezin Ghetto outside of Prague.
According to Krevolin, one of the most inspiring moments in "Making Light in Terezin" occurred during his interview with Holocaust survivor Pavel Stránský, age 93. Stránský was kept in Terezin from December 1941 through 1943 and was also imprisoned at Auschwitz, where he watched
Josef Mengele (an officer and physician infamous for selecting who would be killed) seat young children on his knee and tell them "call me Uncle" right before sending them to their deaths. Despite witnessing such evil firsthand, Stránský never became bitter; instead, he speaks in the film of forgiveness and love and how the arts helped he and other prisoners to survive (for a sneak peak of Stránský's interview, visit youtube.com/watch?v=ogguOPv5fqo).
"Making Light in Terezin" celebrates the creative artistic spirit that was alive in the prisoners of Terezin in 1943 despite the atrocities of war. Because of the length limitations that come with film, which meant only snippets of each interview could be included, the companion book offers supplemental details and historical facts. It presents the full survivor interviews and discussions with Holocaust scholars, "second generation" family members and even a Ph.D. candidate speaking about the effects of imprisonment and creativity on brain chemistry.
The trailer for the film can be seen at: youtube.com/watch?v=sTJSYPKRhIQ
The book and film can both be purchased on Amazon.com, etc.
About Richard Krevolin
In addition to writing, directing and producing "Making Light in Terezin," Krevolin is the author of several best-selling novels and non-fiction books on writing. He lectures around the world on film, storytelling for businesses and writing. For more information, visit ProfK.com, PowerStoryConsulting.com and MakingLightinTerezin.com.
