Last night was the second night of the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival, and my second night of attending and volunteering at the movies. The first night, at the Yiddish Book Center, there were some familiar faces from previous film festivals and from around the area. We were rushed getting out the evaluation cards, my one responsibility, so I went around and handed them out individually. This gave me the chance to say hello and welcome each person. You know, when you smile brightly at someone, the chances are, not always, but often, they will brighten in return. I like that. It is the seed of connection.

Last night, my partner and I were again greeting people and handing out evaluation cards, this time at Amherst College. Different setting, but some of the same people. And new ones! Hello! I am glad you are here! We were chatting about the previous night’s movie, “Restoration,” and reminiscing about movies from years past. Did you see…? Do you remember the one about… oh, what was the name of it…? What other movies are you going to see in the two weeks of this year’s festival? A little more connection. The faces are connecting to their voices.

“Saviors in the Night” was powerful. While it was “just” another Holocaust story, it was nothing like just.Based on a true story of a German family hidden and protected by their neighbors, simple farmers, it packed a wallop. Each person had a story to tell, as we got to see transformations, especially the teen aged girl, who shifted from rote Nazi supporter to a person moved by the horror facing these individual Jews if they were discovered. The impersonal becomes personal, and she matures before our eyes. I don’t know, but I don’t think there was a dry eye at the end of the movie. Then the real punch. After the movie itself had ended, we were introduced to two of the women, now very old ladies, who sat hand in hand with the actors milling around them on the set.  At that point, tissues were a must. The lights came on. I was fumbling in my coat pocket for a Kleenex. The elderly gentleman sitting next to me offered me a crumpled paper napkin from his pocket. It was clean, he said, but definitely was from a  Chinese dinner not long ago. Through tears, through paper napkins, a little connection. He said that this movie moved him more than the one from the night before, and I agreed. I like being touched like that.

About 20 people stayed afterwards for a discussion led by the lovely and warm Christian Rogowski, Amherst College professor of German. There were stories to tell. I didn’t get to hear much of it; I was busy in the lobby collecting the evaluation cards and saying good bye, asking people when I would see them again. Which movie next? The stories being shared with Christian, these I wish could have been collected and written down. Who had a family member who was hidden? Whose family had been destroyed, touched, maimed, restored, survived? Maybe we can get a function on the PVJFF web site for people to record their stories. Especially as the last of the survivors are dying of old age, I hope we can catch every story before it turns to dust.

When will I see you again? We are going to Greenfield tomorrow to see “Foreign Letters.” Are you coming to the “Fiddler on the Roof” sing along? This was the first movie that I knew was a definite for this year’s line up and I have had it on my calendar for months. Sure, I have seen it so many times, in the movies, on the stage in NYC as a child, and even  my daughter played a beautiful Tevye’s wife (hmmm, what is her name?) in a local production. But this time, in community, singing with my kin! I can’t wait. I have a little cold right now, and a sore throat. Definitely have to be better for the 24th so my singing voice is ready and able. My other personal favorite that is coming up is “Carrying the Light.” That is the subject of another blog entry. Just know it is a beauty and see it if you can.

I don’t expect that I am going to form any lasting friendships through this Jewish movie-going community, though you never know. In any case, I am enjoying your faces, your voices, a little bit of your stories and will be happy to see you over the weeks to come!

P.S. If the woman who was talking with me about “Sarah’s Key’ is reading this, the other book by Tatiana de Rosnay that I liked even better was “A Secret Kept.”