This quintessential film, directed by George Stevens (A PLACE IN THE SUN; SHANE; GIANT) in 1959, starred Millie Perkins and Shelley Winters. In case you’ve lived under a rock (and by the way, I’ve recently meet a 30 year old who’d never even heard of Anne Frank), this film harrowing, true-life story of the Frank family who go into hiding during Holland’s Nazi occupation. For two years, the Franks, including thirteen year old Anne Frank and her older sister, along with the Van Daans family hid in a room on the third floor (kept secret by a hidden door) of their place of business (often referred to as the building’s attic). During this terrifying ordeal during which the two families and a dentist that joins them later – all that they know of the outside world comes from radio news, and the little street that the factory overlooks. Anne Frank documented her surroundings during those two years, up until the families’ location was betrayed and they were captured by the Nazis to meet their tragic fate.
One of the group’s last acts before capture is to hide Anne’s diary, which serves as the basis of the important film.
An important aside: while we were researching the actors in this film we came upon a Stevens protege who gave us significant insight into the players’ state of mind during this production. Genie Wilme is still alive, posts on Facebook, and told us the story of her loved one, Kevin and their experiences being separated during the war. “We decided to create two sterling silver rings, his and hers, with a simple “love knot” design that we would wear while Kevin was away from me. They complimented our sterling silver wedding bands and my engagement ring. Sterling silver happened to be within our limited budget, but it was also sturdy and durable. The rings became very meaningful tokens that both of us continued treasure throughout this ordeal.” We learned this amazing story from a descendant named Jon Ash who came to the US as a child and prospered as a maritime attorney in New Orleans, working for a private practice focused on Jones Act cases – those involving workers injured on vessels and rigs in the Gulf. It was Facebook that facilitated the connection between these generations.
From Anne Frank to Facebook in 50 years – amazing!
Madame Rosa’s a retired prostitute, a survivor of Auschwitz, and lives in the seedier part of Pigalle in Paris. She spends her time as a foster mother to children of other prostitutes. One of these children, Momo, is an Algerian boy whom she’s raised as a Muslim. When Madame Rosa’s health deteriorates, it’s time for Momo to become a man, and to begin caring for the woman who cared for him for all those years. Starring Simone Signoret, directed by Moshé Mizrahi, and based on Romain Gary’s novel, this film will pull on your heartstings long after the end credits roll.
DIRTY DANCING
This 1987 Romance film was written by Eleanor Bergstein. It is a coming of age story which documents a relationship a teenage girls relationship with a dance instructor who she encounters at during summer vacation with her family. As Johnny (Patrick Swayze) teaches Baby (Jennifer Grey) to dance a romance begins to develop. The relationship is eventually revealed after an accusation of theft leave Johnny without an alibi. Johnny is still fired because of a no relationship with guests policy but this kind act brings Johnny to realize that “there are people willing to stand up for other people no matter what it costs them”.