Elder Voices: Stories for These Times 2019
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by David Goodman
Directed by David Goodman
Streaming, 49 min
College - General Adult
Activism, Jewish Holocaust, World War II
Date Entered: 05/15/2020
Reviewed by Terri Robar, Learning & Research Services Librarian, University of MiamiOne of the many quotations included in this film is the famous one from George Santayana: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. And that is the basic point of this film.
The interviewees in this film are people who grew up during the 1930’s and 40’s and were witnesses to the many injustices of the period. Some were European Jews who survived the Holocaust. One was a Japanese-American who was forced into a U.S. internment camp. One worked at a mental hospital. Each of them relays their story of what they endured and witnessed set against a backdrop of historical footage, home movies, and photographs.
Unfortunately, the narrative often got lost as the film jumped around from story to story. It was very disorienting especially when a new speaker would start narrating a new segment of their story over historical footage and only after a couple of minutes would the audience be shown who was now speaking. This made it rather hard to follow.
The last segment is called Taking Action. This is where they show that similar injustices are still with us today and that it is important to take action to stop violence and prejudice. This part, however, seems almost rushed. They spent a long time telling the stories of the past, finally start tying it to “these times,” and the film abruptly ends.
It is important to remember and record these stories of the past while we still have the chance. It is also important to recognize that much of the underlying hatred, violence, and prejudice is still with us today. Because of the choppy nature of the narrative, however, the film is recommended with reservations.