Castaways (Wyrzutki) 2013
Distributed by LogTV Ltd., 4 La Rue Road, Spencer, NY 14883; 917-864-0715
Produced by Stanislaw Zywolewski, LogTV Ltd.
Directed by Slawomir Grünberg, Tomasz Wisniewski
DVD , 17 min.
Sr. High - General Adult
Jewish Holocaust, Poland, World War II
Date Entered: 09/05/2013
Reviewed by Michael Fein, Coordinator of Library Services, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, VAThis short documentary concerns the small town of Lapy in Poland, which is located on the rail line that during World War II went from Bialystok to the Treblinka death camp. Trains that went through Lapy had to slow down and a number of Jewish parents out of desperation tossed their children out of the train hoping that someone would rescue them. The film consists of witnesses to these events describing what they saw, felt, and did. They all remember the children and one describes being forced to bury the children after the Germans had executed them. There are also a number of pen and ink drawings which portray the incidents described. Remarkably, one child was actually taken in by a Polish family and survives to this day, but wishes to remain anonymous. Though this is only slightly more than a quarter-hour, it may be the most disturbing quarter-hour you see on film for a while. Technically the film is very well done with only some spelling errors in the subtitles. Sound is a very clear Polish LPCM.
Recommended for high school and adult audiences.