Educational Media Reviews Online

Numbered takes a profound look at one of the most notorious attributes of Holocaust survivors: their numbered tattoos. Forced upon them in moments of terror and the unknown, these tattoos can have a significant impact on a survivor later in life, as the film shows. We hear from various survivors who give the audience a brief look into their Holocaust experience and their feelings toward their numbers.

It is in conversations with the survivors that we begin to better understand this delicate topic. The array of attitudes towards their tattoos showcases how these individuals live their lives, their personalities, and how they cope with their markings. These coping mechanisms range from humor to moving on, to remembrance. Some individuals see their markings as a medal, and as a show of pride and superiority, which is ironic given the original purpose was to make the subjects feel quite the opposite. Still others believe their tattoos should be covered or removed. It is not a topic they prefer to remember. On the other hand, others view their tattoos as a way to remember their families and the hardships they endured.

The film also explores how family members of survivors are impacted by their markings. Several individuals are featured to have their family member’s number tattooed on themselves as a way to remember them or what they went through.

Despite the brutal way in which these individuals were essentially branded like cattle, some view their tattoos as badges of honor. Others, however, would prefer not to memorialize or discuss. The variety in coping mechanisms proves that similar experiences do not equal the same outlook. The ways in which humans handle unfathomable experiences differ greatly but are nonetheless vital to study.

This film incorporates a mix of in-studio interviews and photographs with footage of the subjects in their personal lives. The inclusion of scenes of the survivors in their usual surroundings lends the audience a glimpse of their personalities and an idea of how they live their lives. The film has a convenient run time and format that allows the audience to understand the survivors and learn their stories without being overwhelmed with information. The subtitles are aligned, the sound is clear, and the overall filming is well done. The film is in Hebrew with English subtitles and is appropriate for Jewish studies, Holocaust, and History courses.

Highly recommended for upper-level high school through general adult audiences.

Awards:
Silver Hugo Award, Chicago International Film Festival; Best Debut Film, Israeli Doc Forum

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