I think I own every Holocaust movoie going in my collection, an interest that stemmed from WW2 and history in general, but I really wasn#t sure that I really wanted to see another one. Based on the biography of one such individual the story here concerns the Slovaks, seen through the eyes of one such boy. The initial impression conveyed here is that the Slovakian Jews, were not especially religious, got on with their lives and hoped the on coming war and new boundaries in the East would not effect them, at least that is what the Friedmen family were hoping in this well told period drama. Seen predominantly through the eyes of the football talented son, Martin, the title comes from a pact the father made with his family as he raised a toast in front of his wife and many children that they will all do the same again next year and count their many successes an event they fail to realise when the on set of the Jewish deportation to work camps and worse see's the family broken up. All the more tragic that the father, (Excellently played)hopes like many, with optimism that things will get better, ignoring one sons offer of freedom to Palestine arranged for almost the whole family before things begin to get worse. Shot in rich grainy colours and well acted by a cast unknown in Western main stream drama this movie sets the tone and captures the time at a realistic perfect pitch. Much of the film is set in the work camp where those that are useful are kept alive to contribute while their friends and family are gradually whisked off to a horrible fate that is unknown but can obviously be guessed at. True, we have seen this all before, told in grim detail in Schindlers List, and with action and suspense in the mini-series film Uprising, and latter part of the film, with its resistance focus has more in common with Defiance as others have suggested. What this film rams home however is that there are many stories to be told about the holocaust, and despite the familiar setting each is very unique and while the emotional gamut we travel maybe one we have been down before, it is no less poignant even if it feels like old ground. An old day medical procedure is very gut wrenching to watch and all the acting is first rate. Historians and those with an interest will find this to be a well made film with much to enjoy in the detail, those looking for something more Hollywood, may still, if they can stay away from their mobile phones, find themselves on a moving journey none the less. You know what your getting and unfortunately here, the bad guys don't always get their just deserts, but then this is real life, not Hollywood. You may well see this in your local supermarket at some stage with an emphasis on action cover like so many other foreign WW2 titles recently, more often than not, they are rarely if ever action based pictures but that doesn't mean that their not any good, or worth watching, and depending on your attraction to the subject matter, that is very true here. Worth your time.
6 Reviews
"Broken Promise" vs. "The Shop on Main Street"
rmanory28 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie at the Jewish Film Festival in Melbourne and I learned later that this was the Slovak entry for a foreign language Academy Award. The movie is a historical movie, and it seems that the director took a lot of trouble to deliver authenticity. The movie feels very authentic, and since the real Martin Friedman appears in it at the end, one may assume that the events depicted in it were true. This film reminds me of two other movies, "Defiance" and "The Shop on main Street." Although "Defiance" takes place in Belarus, it also depicts the life of Jewish partisans in Eastern Europe, and from this point of view there are many similarities. The same period as the beginning of this movie is described in 'The Shop on Main Street'. The movie begins in 1938, when the country called Slovakia was created after Hitler's breakdown of Czechoslovakia. And both films take the trouble of depicting the decent Slovaks who lived their life alongside Jews and did not hate them. The Jews in Slovakia were not very religious, and society was quite open towards them until 1938. Martin was playing soccer with non-Jews, the coach loved him and all seemed to be well. With years passing however, the attitude towards Jews in Slovakia gets worse, and they find it more and more difficult to hide. One of the strongest scenes in this movie is when Martin is hiding in a monastery where the staff was taking care of Jewish patients at varying degrees of dementia, and the villagers organize a pogrom to kill the Jewish patients. It is impressive to realize that the producers of this Slovak movie did not try to embellish or remove this scene, because it depicts the ordinary Slovaks in a very bad light. Like in "The Shop on Main Street" however, Slovak society is not monolithic, and in both movies there are many decent people who take risks and help Jews. The movie depicts seven crucial years in the lives of Martin Friedman and Slovakia, including the Arianization that was also the topic of 'The Shop on Main Street'. From an artistic point of view, the latter was a better movie, but from an historical point of view the viewer is exposed to much more Slovak history in this movie. It was very disgusting to see that there was no difference in attitudes towards Jews among the pro-Nazi civilians and the Soviet-controlled partisans, even though, as the partisan leader says 'The Red Army forbids antisemitism'. A very realistic and courageous movie.
A must-see among Holocaust movies
guisreis29 June 2020
Very good film on Holocaust and Second World War in Slovakia. Well developped, with good cinematography, good script and dialogs, good actors. The movie explores many important elements such as Jewish culture, Anti-Semitism amongs Slovaks, Partisan military culture, and it allows to deepen the narrative. I strongly recommend this Slovakian historical biographical film.
An unvarnished tale of resistance in central Europe
Hughmn9 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this film at the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. Mr. Friedman-Petrasek was present for the screening, and answered questions afterward. Like another writer, I was struck by the possible parallel to "Defiance." By contrast with that film, I was particularly impressed with the evenhanded honesty with which the story was told. In particular, the way in which the Slovak partisans were NOT presented in a romanticized heroic light.
The film is beautifully shot on location in Slovakia. The production quality gives no hint of a limited budget, though I can't imagine that the producers had a lot of money to play with.
The tragedies of the Slovak Jews, including many members of Mr. Friedman's family were well told, if familiar to someone like myself who has seen many Holocaust tales. But most tales of the resistance are overtly heroic affairs.
* * * SPOILER * * *
However, here the partisans hiding out in the mountains are a distinctly rag-tag group. The first time Martin gets a chance to shoot at a German, the Russian commander of the partisans tells him to hold his fire until the car passes, because he's spied a wild boar that can provide them with food. "Shoot the pig" he orders.
There are many other incidents in which the practical need to survive takes precendence over idealism or honor. These men are not saints. Some of them are not even decent, they're just allied against the Germans. Russians are in command, and a another soldier is very possibly a German army deserter. Anti-Semitism is prevalent, and Martin decides it is best to keep his Jewish heritage a secret, which as it turns out, is a very good idea.
Yet, despite the serious shades of gray, this is a hopeful story. Martin stumbles at a number of turns, but survives. His is an honest story of hope and determination. There are few enough films coming out of Slovakia these days, and this is a very good one. I greatly enjoyed the film, and I hope it will prove successful for the talented team that created it.
The film is beautifully shot on location in Slovakia. The production quality gives no hint of a limited budget, though I can't imagine that the producers had a lot of money to play with.
The tragedies of the Slovak Jews, including many members of Mr. Friedman's family were well told, if familiar to someone like myself who has seen many Holocaust tales. But most tales of the resistance are overtly heroic affairs.
* * * SPOILER * * *
However, here the partisans hiding out in the mountains are a distinctly rag-tag group. The first time Martin gets a chance to shoot at a German, the Russian commander of the partisans tells him to hold his fire until the car passes, because he's spied a wild boar that can provide them with food. "Shoot the pig" he orders.
There are many other incidents in which the practical need to survive takes precendence over idealism or honor. These men are not saints. Some of them are not even decent, they're just allied against the Germans. Russians are in command, and a another soldier is very possibly a German army deserter. Anti-Semitism is prevalent, and Martin decides it is best to keep his Jewish heritage a secret, which as it turns out, is a very good idea.
Yet, despite the serious shades of gray, this is a hopeful story. Martin stumbles at a number of turns, but survives. His is an honest story of hope and determination. There are few enough films coming out of Slovakia these days, and this is a very good one. I greatly enjoyed the film, and I hope it will prove successful for the talented team that created it.
Broken Promise (a true story)
s-northedge201126 September 2012
In the last few years I have read so much about the holocaust as I need to know what was happening in Europe a few years before my birth. More & more stories are coming out. I visited Krakow a couple of years ago although I could not bear to go to Auschwitz. We know what happened there. Oskar Schindlers Factory now Museum lifted my spirits as some good came out of bad (No; worse than bad) I believe true story of this film & Martins terrible life but strength & tenacity is portrayed so well. The story is truly heartbreaking. I am so glad that Martin Friedmann- Petrasek lived on in Palestine to tell the world his harrowing story. Shalom.
Worst World War movie ever!
hectormolinac11 August 2020
This is the worst World War movie I ve ever seen. The story line is ridiculous, the characters are bad. Looks like a bad scholar project. Dont waste your time, not all movies about jewish suffering and nazi abuse are worthy, this is not a magic formula, you need much, much more, and this mediocre film falls very short.
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