jakob der lügner (jakob the liar), 1975, east germany, 100 min, director: frank beyer

in 1944, jakob heym is summoned to the ghetto's district police station in order to be punished. however, through a lucky circumstance, he manages to leave the station unharmed. while there, he heard a radio news report that he relates to a despondent friend: the russians are twenty kilometers away. then begins his storytelling to alleviate the unbearable life of those around him. compare columbia pictures' 1999 re-make (same title), with robin williams as lead.

speakers: kristie foell and christina guenther, german program, bgsu

al tigu le b'shoah (don't touch my holocaust), 1994, israel, 140 min, director: asher tlalim

documentary on israel's akko theater center as they prepare production of a play entitled arbeit macht frei. the film follows the international troupe of actors to morocco, the czech republic, and germany. they meet holocaust survivors and learn from documents, wrestling to understand the events and fates that they bring to life on stage.

speaker: david brenner, german and jewish studies programs, kent state university

schindler's list, 1993, usa, 195 min, director: steven spielberg

based on actual figure of czech-born businessman oskar schindler who saved over 1,000 jewish people from death during ww II. set in cracow, poland, the film explores schindler's motivations for and the memory of his actions. spielberg's film won oscars in seven categories in 1994.

speaker: michael bernard-donals, english and jewish studies programs, university of wisconsin - madison

la vita è bella (life is beautiful), 1997, italy, 122 min, director: roberto benigni

the ebullient waiter guido falls in love with dora, a schoolteacher in pre-world war II italy. guido, of jewish heritage, and the couple's son are sent to a concentration camp. dora follows them. profound sadness and joy work at crosspurposes in the film, which won 1999 academy awards for best foreign language film and best leading actor (benigni). benigni's use of comedy in his treatment of the holocaust has divided audiences, critics, and scholars.

speaker: carlo celli, italian program, bgsu

all events begin with speaker's remarks at 7:00pm

gish film theater, hanna hall, bgsu campus
parking in lots a, e, and g (campus map at http://www.bgsu.edu/map/section7.html)

admission: free

office of the provost
department of german, russian, and east asian languages
ruth fajerman markowicz holocaust resource center of greater toledo