Educational Media Reviews Online

Remembering the Holocaust is an essential story to be told and a dark chapter in world history. Shores of Light tells a later chapter, after World War II ended, when some Jewish refugees were not able to make their way to Palestine (now Israel) but found themselves on the southern shores of coastal Italy in Salento (1945-47). In this emotionally uplifting chapter of history, acts of warmth and kindness by a welcoming community are shared.

We journey with three senior women from Israel, Shuni Lifshitz, Rivka Cohen, and Esther Herzog, who return to the shore of Santa Maria di Leuca to research the history of where they were born. Lifshitz brought everyone together and provides much of the narration. Their journey took them to numerous sites such as: the Bari-Palese displaced persons camp, the municipal registration office to find Esther’s birth records, regional camps and the Museum in Santa Maria al Bagno, Rome with Rivka, an orphanage in Sante Croce, and Santa Cesarea to where Esther’s parents lived.

Spending time with the three women is a travelogue accentuated by beautiful music by Alberto Shwartz and postcard views of the shoreline by Elio Bisignani and Hillel Nave. As we share in their discoveries, we begin to feel part of their family. We empathize as they solve a new question of their history and reunite with the kind Italians that gave them food, shelter and community. We share the beauty of the shore and its warm-hearted people. The documentary includes a particular focus on the experiences of the women’s mothers; marriage and birth figure prominently. In one scene, Rivka laments that her mother, killed during the war, was not by her side her when she herself gave birth.

The film also describes the cultural fusion between the Jewish refugees and the Italians. We learn of a poor Italian man who bartered his accordion for bread and money; the accordion provided music and dance to the Jewish refugees. We listen in as Esther calls her mother to relate this memory to her; they decide to donate their own accordion to a local museum as a remembrance. In a later episode, they meet Vittoria Turco who provided her wedding gown to the survivors so they could marry in white. At the end of the film, a similar gown would be donated to the museum in gratitude of this kind gesture. The wedding dress and the accordion were indicative of the love and life between the Jewish refugees and their Italian hosts after the war. They came out of a dark period of history but found and created life. With the help of the Italians, the refugees enjoyed community, love, marriage, which led to a baby boom. The births defied the evil movement that tried to erase their lives.

Catholic and Jewish relations are also explored. Golda and Guy Sparasci’s Jewish-Catholic wedding is discussed. We learn that local clergy set an example by welcoming the Jewish refugees with open arms and treating them with compassion. Rivka journeyed to Rome to meet a gentle nun who helped her mother overcome her suspicions of Christians. We watch Rivka in a café with old photographs that she shows to an older gentleman in order to identify a nun who helped her mother. An assistant to the nuns he knows sends Rivka to Rome to meet Sister Redenta who is 98 years old. When she’s able to visit with her, there is a tender moment with hugs of joy. After the meeting, Rivka calls Shuni to tell her about her experience; the nun expressed that having met Rivka was one of the most wonderful things that could happen to her before she dies. During their journey, the women touch the hearts of those they meet.

As they reunite with the citizens of this shoreline, there are numerous warm and tender scenes of remembering. Yet, there are difficult memories as well. One tells of the water's edge, which the families often swam in, where there was a near suicide. Another describes a disagreement over feuding soccer teams (one of the Jewish men, the other from the Italian town).

There were minor issues when viewing the production that do not detract from the overall documentary. One arose from the fact that the film is in Hebrew and Italian with English translations. Viewers may not be able to read the translations fast enough. The wonderful photo montages pass by quickly. If it is viewed online, it is helpful to stop and replay segments. When the women visited a local high school to speak with the students, it at first seemed as if the students understood the Hebrew being spoken; likely there was a translator, and the translation was cut out for the flow of the film. Another issue is understanding the geographic region. If the viewer is not familiar with Salento, the heel of the boot of Italy, it is recommended to consult a map prior to viewing the documentary.

The film includes historians as experts. Their appearance and commentary are often brief. Dr. Itzhak Minerbi provided historical context. Paolo Pisacne, Founder of the Museum in Bagni, guided them. Professor Lelli of the University of Lecci joined their trip to Sata Maria al Bagno where we learn about the artist Zvi Miller and how the British blocked entry of the refugees into Israel. The role of the British is not thoroughly explained and may inspire further reading after the viewing.

Historical footage and still photos were perfectly incorporated into the narrative. The editing was outstanding. Some documents came from private collections, some from Museums, and some came from The Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive. Episodes from the journey transitioned well with scenes of the beautiful shoreline, historical footage, commentary from historians, voice overs from diary excerpts, and old photographs.

There is a final celebration with the Mayor of Tricase of the “girls born in Leuca.” Silvia Godelli, Councilor of Culture and Tourism at Puglia, sums up the journey perfectly when she remarks that, “This is a family story, a story of the heart, the story of human events -- the concept of hope that we convey every day is final victory over racism and intolerance. It is a great lesson that has stemmed from this little piece of land.” From climbing the steep steps to the lighthouse in the footsteps of their foremothers, to the final act of the mayor opening the waterfall to celebrate their visit, we are reminded that hope and friendship persist, that there is birth and renewal.

Awards:

2015 Special Jury Distinction, Mumbai International Short Film festival, Mumbai, India; 2016 Letter of Excellence, Noida International film Festival, Delhi, India

Published and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Anyone can use these reviews, so long as they comply with the terms of the license.