Like many survivors of the Holocaust, after World War II, Saul and Ruby moved to America, started families and careers, grew old, and retired to South Florida. For them, retirement could have been the last chapter in their story. But then they decided to start a klezmer band, named the Holocaust Survivor Band.
Saul & Ruby's Holocaust Survivor Band
A Film by: Tod Lending
(USA 2020, 80 min, English, English subtitles)
Like many survivors of the Holocaust, after World War II, Saul and Ruby moved to America, started families and careers, grew old, and retired to South Florida. For them, retirement could have been the last chapter in their story. But then they decided to start a klezmer band, named the Holocaust Survivor Band. The band summons the bittersweet memories of childhood in Poland, but more than that, it is a celebration of life. In this utterly heart-affecting and enthralling film, we follow Saul and Ruby’s musical journey, which begins in total obscurity, playing in residential homes for the elderly and small Jewish community organizations, to being invited to perform at venues across the country, including a coveted performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. This unique and compelling story is about having the courage to live one’s dreams, finding purpose and meaning in life at any age, the transcendent power of music, and the importance of speaking out against antisemitism and bigotry.
FESTIVALS & SCREENINGS
Opening night and Grand Jury Prize - Miami JFF 2020: "The movie is a hugely inspirational work that records important history in a fresh and moving manner".
Audience Choice Award for Best documentary - Atlanta JFF 2020
Chicago JFF
DocEdge – New Zealand
Wales International Doc Festival
Ashville NC JFF
Rochester NY JFF
Jackson Hole JFF
Krakow Int'l FF
The Hampton Synagogue Special Screening
Victoria International JFF
Boston JFF
Jacksonville, FL JFF
MUZEUM KINEMATOGRAFII W ŁODZI Special Screening
Moscow JFF
Alpert JCC, Long Beach
Cincinnati JFF
Greater Hartford JFF
Harrisburg, PA JFF
Rutgers, NJ JFF
Tampa, FL JFF
Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, Cincinnati OH
Clifton Park Chabad
Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center
Nagle Family JFF
Ventura JFF
Sarasota JFF
Temple Emanu-El, Dallas 2021
Arizona Jewish Historical Society 2021
Houston JCC 2021
Silicon Valley JFF 2021
Temple Beth Shalom 2021
Philadelphia Israeli FF 2021
Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg 2021
Temple Adas Israel 2021
Westchester Jewish Center 2021
Sarasota JFF 2021
Irma Horowitz Film Fest
Polish Film Festival in America
Play Krakow