The story of a group of Jewish Boy Scouts who worked with the French Resistance to save the lives of ten thousand orphans during World War II.
“Resistance” opens with a cheerful, but cautious family scene in Munich, Germany; mother and father reading a bedtime story to their daughter Elsbeth (the amazing Bella Ramsey, “Game of Thrones,” “Judy”). The room is filled with laughter and love as Elsbeth recites the Shema. Happily ever after? Not exactly. The date is November 9, 1938. For those of you who are not familiar with that infamous day in history, it was known as Kristallnacht – the Night of Broken Glass.
Fast forward to Nuremberg 1945. General Patton (the always marvelous Ed Harris) is addressing his troops, sharing a story of bravery and courage, setting the stage for the final act.
We return to Strasbourg in 1938 where Marcel Mangel is entertaining in a club, impersonating Charlie Chaplin. His father would prefer he work in the family butcher shop, but his cousin Georges (Geza Rohrig, “Son of Saul”) has other plans for him. One hundred and twenty-three Jewish orphans need care and he enlists his help. Working with children is not exactly his “cup of borscht” but it seems he has a knack for keeping the fearful children from dwelling on their misery by employing the art of pantomime. He also discovers it’s a marvelous way to impress girls – especially Emma (Clémence Poésy, “In Bruges”).
And so begins the personal journey of Marcel Mangel, the self-centered artist to world-famous mime known to all as Marcel Marceau.
Joining the French resistance with his brother Alain (Félix Moati), together they flee to Limoges, where Marcel discovers that his artistic talent serves him in other ways. He develops into a skillful counterfeiter altering names and ages on passports; forging documents becomes his main job within the resistance movement. In 1943, risking his own life, he poses as a Boy Scout leader and smuggles several Jewish orphans to safety, out of the country across the border into Switzerland. Thousands of children were saved.
My heart raced throughout the suspenseful two hours of “Resistance,” especially during scenes with Klaus Barbie (Matthias Schweighöfer). Writer/director Jonathan Jakubowicz gathered a marvelous ensemble of Oscar-nominated movie stars plus the best foreign film actors to make this ambitious film. He does an amazing job of relating this incredibly heartbreaking and inspiring story, perhaps because he has his own compelling story to tell. I hope he considers putting his own tale up on the big screen one day. I would like to see “Resistance” a second time, but on a big screen where it was meant to be seen. The cinematography by M.I. Littin-Menz was simply.breathtaking.
Please read my interview with the director, Jonathan Jakubowicz below, which will give you more insight into the making of the film. The movie was scheduled to open at independent theaters across the country on Friday, March 27th. The theaters are, of course, all closed…. but as the saying goes, “the show must go on.” And indeed it shall, albeit via a slightly different route. And since you’re staying home anyway…watch “Resistance” and spread the word – instead of spreading germs!
Interview with Director Jonathan Jakubowicz
In the midst of my self-quarantine, I presumed I had some spare time to begin my much-needed closet clean-out. Apparently, my closets will have to wait – there are movies to watch and “Resistance” was at the top of the list!
Below is excerpted from my conversation with writer/director Jonathan Jacubowicz. He is Venezuela’s most celebrated filmmaker and writer. His film, “Secuestro Express,” was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the British Independent Film Awards.
Susan Kandell: Good afternoon Jonathan. I am delighted to speak with you this afternoon even though we are in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. I must tell you – the film was riveting and inspiring…and the story-line is largely unknown! I can’t wait to share this with my readers – they need an uplifting tale like this RIGHT NOW!
Jonathan Jacubowicz: Thank you. Thank you so much. Beautiful words. Thank you.
SK: You’re welcome! So let’s start at the beginning. How did you learn about Marcel Marceau and his participation in saving Jewish orphans? How did this story come to you?
JJ: I don’t remember exactly, but when it did, it just completely blew my mind. I didn’t even know Marcel was Jewish. Then I started doing the research and I was able to track down Georges, Marcel’s first cousin who was still alive. I traveled to Paris and I sat down with him. He was 106 years old when we met! And he was completely fine mentally and told me a lot of what you see in the movie. You know, it was an incredibly emotional meeting. You felt that you were meeting one of your all-time heroes. The first thing he told me is, “I don’t know why you’re making a movie about Marcel and not about me!”
SK & JJ: We both chuckle!
JJ: But after that meeting, I felt like I couldn’t stop until I made this movie. I didn’t stop. I kept doing research and started writing. And it’s been an incredible process and you know the inspiration that you felt when watching the movie? It’s what has kept me going for the last few years. You know, I’m making this movie – a very joyful experience, even though it’s against the back of some of the most horrifying realities in human history. There is so much inspiration to be found in the characters – in the tale and in their heroism that I was really moved and constantly emotional about bringing this story to the world. The fact that it’s coming out in a moment where we are surrounded by so much bad news -people are in so much need of inspiration. It humbles me and it makes me feel that the movie has a journey of its own. If we are able to contribute, even a little bit to make the people feel a little more inspired, it’s a beautiful thing to do.
SK: Your explanation of that question sounds a lot like the answer Marcel gave his father as to why he “has” to be a performer, instead of a butcher. Tell me about the casting. Let’s start with Jesse Eisenberg. He did a wonderful job portraying Marcel Marceau.
JJ: When I’m writing a script, I’m always trying to do research on actors to see who you think could play the character you’re writing. And that’s when I read that Jesse’s mother was a professional clown. He actually grew up watching his mother paint her facing white to go to work. He also had family that was killed in the Holocaust. I realized that he would be an incredible choice to play Marcel, this noble character. People are connecting with the movie; it’s fascinating for the audience to watch and very moving to see him change.
SK: Exactly! The other surprise was Bella Ramsey, who plays the orphaned girl in the opening scene. I don’t know what you must’ve said to her to make her cry, but she was incredible! Her facial expressions alone were priceless. There was a personal connection for you in her story that was shared in the film.
JJ: Yes, it’s part of my family’s story. Much of her character is inspired by my aunt who survived the war hiding in a Catholic orphanage in Poland. I couldn’t really find a specific story of a child who Marcel saved, so I decided to draw inspiration from another survivor’s story who I knew really well. My aunt was my artistic mentor when I was growing up. And when she saw the movie for the first time in Miami, she phoned me quickly. It was an incredible moment and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried through this process.
SK: Now I have tears in my eyes too! Tell me about selecting Bella to play Elsbeth.
JJ: She’s incredible! She’s a genius! I mean, I have had the honor to work with some of the best actors in history; Ed Harris and Robert de Niro (in my prior film). I have to say that working with Bella Ramsey felt like I was working with one of the greats! I really think she’s going to be a star like Cate Blanchett. We’re going to be seeing her perform for decades and she’s going to be giving the world something that only she can do!
SK: I hope someone shows her my review, just so she reads your compliment. Roberto Benigni’s “Life is Beautiful” touches on some of the same territory as “Resistance” where the central character uses his imagination to entertain children. How do you feel that there might be some comparisons made?
JJ: I think it’s flattering, but they are very different movies. Ours was inspired by a true story and a true character. “Life is Beautiful” is a complete fantasy and wasn’t intended to be seen in any other way. But I think it’s flattering. I loved that movie when it was released and it really connected with a ton of people. But I think if you see it (“Resistance”) you’ll see it’s very different.
SK: Yes and here’s a challenge for my readers to see it, so they’ll understand the difference between the two films. You are well known internationally for films that have a historical context like “Secuestro Express” and “Hands of Stone.” Writing and directing a biopic is different from one that’s centered around a particular event; you’re obliged to get it right.
JJ: Obviously it’s a bigger challenge because the stakes are higher and people are expecting you to reach the level of the legend that you’re portraying. I think the only reason you should do a biopic, is if you find a story that is too good to be true. You know, too good to miss! When I read that Marcel found his art through saving children….well you could never come up with that. There’s no fiction that would look as good! A lot of my stories are fiction, but when you find that unique story, you realize, it’s so important to tell the story. It’s a privilege to share this story with the world – it is incredibly important! Obviously people have their own opinions…. but I don’t anticipate anybody disliking the way we portrayed him. We focus specifically on this moment in his life where he was saving these children during the war. You know, if we were to make a movie about his work on stage, I’m sure he would be a lot more difficult to portray and a lot more controversial.
SK: Yes, I’m sure – right, right. So, what should moviegoers take away from this film today, in light of what’s going on with in the world with the coronavirus? Do you think there’s a message of responsibility, Does a story like this relate to what’s going on today?
JJ: You know, it’s very easy to feel despair right now. The news (on TV) is bad and what’s going on is so very terrible. But when you see people who were surviving World War II and surviving the Holocaust….and not only that, risking it all to save other people during the war, I think it’s inevitable to feel inspired. And I think right now that’s exactly what we need! To be inspired. Yesterday, a girl in Argentina turned her camera on her 103-year-old Holocaust survivor grandmother. The grandmother proceeded to tell her how she lived in a hole in the ground for three years without taking a shower, without having much food. And people are complaining because they can’t leave their houses for two weeks!
SK: I have a quick question about the final scene, where Patton is addressing the troops. Is Marcel’s performance before the soldiers documented? Or did you take some artistic license?
JJ: The actual performance? I mean the performance happened and there is a speech he gave when he received the Wallenberg Medal in which he talks about that very performance. And he’s very proud when he says that his first good review appeared in the Stars and Stripes paper of the armed forces. So it was definitely a real event. It’s not like what Marcel’s actually performed that day, but the event is. I thought it was very unique because it’s the convergence of completely opposite worlds – the opposite of your stereotypical war hero. He’s a mime! To have Patton introduce him was the ultimate; a top general who defeated the Nazis introducing him to his troops!
SK: It’s quite a scene, yes – quite an honor.
JJ: We were able to shoot at the very place where Nazi rallies took place. What you see behind Marcel is this colosseum that’s called Kongresshalle that Hitler was building for himself when the war ended. And the notion of having Jesse Eisenberg, a Jewish actor perform there a pantomime for the troops of General Patton about the horrors of the war and loss. It sent a message of peace and understanding. For me, it was very, very emotional. And I mean it really felt like we were doing something important.
SK: And indeed you are! I know our time today is running out, one more quick question, the castle where the children initially lived, was it filmed at the Rosenberg Castle in the Czech Republic? It looked like the palace in Český Krumlov.
JJ: It’s the Rosenberg Palace in Kronach, a small town in Germany. They were kind enough to give us the palace for free. And in a movie like this, you go where you can afford it.
SK: And you can afford free! Just the right price, yes?
JJ: Yes, exactly. So we were able to shoot in this gorgeous palace that was also very cool because the kids in the movie were able to stay in the palace for the 10 days we stayed in that town. For them, it was a little like Harry Potter. So, the kids are also grandkids and relatives of Holocaust survivors. I think the reason why they’re all so good and it why it was so easy to direct them was because they knew the story. They knew the feeling. He (Marcel) was very important for them and for their parents. And the connection that they developed with Jesse was very unique and I think you see it in the film.
SK: Yes, yes you do. Well, congratulations to you, Jonathan. And thank you for recognizing the importance of this story being told and for bringing it to our attention. I’ve been programming a Jewish film festival for 19 years and I’m always amazed that there are still unique Holocaust stories to be told. So we have approximately 5,999,000 more to go. I want you to find them and tell the stories because you did a magnificent job on this story.
JJ: Thank you so much. Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Reprinted and excerpted with permission from the Texas Jewish Post.
Available on Digital and On-Demand Friday, March 27th
