Aida's Secrets

source: Aida's Secrets

Very well-made documentary about the survival and even triumphs of mere mortals in the wake of WWII and the holocaust, told through the unraveling secrets of one mother and her sons. Life in the Displaced Persons Camp near Bergen-Belsen may have been like a rebirth for the war survivors, but they have of course been deeply damaged and sometimes may have done things that are difficult to explain. As Aida's deep secrets are gently unraveled, we gain compassion and understanding.

If you don't mind reading subtitles and you also enjoy a realist ending, this film will do. The main character, Aida says "I did my very best" and if you had been a teenage Jewish girl taken from your family (and never saw them again) and sent into servitude -you would have made some painful decisions along life's roads, as Aida did. I found Shep's understanding toward a his mother to be very touching. The new found joy between long lost brothers to brought tears to the eyes. Shep's story seems like it could be a movie in its own right. Izak appeared to truly struggle with the unknowns of his story. Just when he thinks he knows and has found peace it slips from his fingers. I can understand how it could leave him feeling like unfinished puzzle. Some of his pieces he seemed to have thrown out-with his adoptive brother and sister and the bitterness he showed towards them. I hope he will let them be part of his unknown history and find peace with what he does know.

There are many secrets of the past that will continue to emerge in the next decades, as many people look into their DNA ancestry and find that the stories don't match the data. This will be especially true for people whose ancestors went through some of the worst horrors of history. And there is a generation of people who would not have spoken of it, have been ashamed, and have been traumatized by their experiences. I can completely sympathize with women who might have done whatever they had to, to survive. Or may have been subject to situations out of their control. And the offspring will have mixed outcomes. Some stories will begin to cohere. Some will only fray more. This is a fascinating look at one of those cases. There is also a remarkably lucky strike of archival records that was available to piece this story together. Some families won't have that. This documentary was a well-constructed trip through time, not varnished, and sometimes unsettling. But it seems to have been an honest view into a family's attempt to wrestle with the past, and fill in the gaps. And we heard stories of a time whose participants are slipping away. I think it was definitely worthwhile and I am glad someone captured it. I certainly learned things of value.

Separated siblings is really nothing new. Set against the backdrop of WWII and the Holocaust was an intriguing premise. However, much of the movie is aged people crying, looking SHOCKED, and then the tired old reunion trope. It's been done a million times. But then, I've never been a fan of "hey - put the cameras on me while I go through something extremely emotional and personal!"

Siblings separated against the backdrop of WWII, being reunited and finding out they have different fathers, then to find out there's yet another third brother by a third father who's living in Canada. The third brother has the good sense to not want anything to do with this picture or his 2 half brothers. I think I know what Aida's secret was, that she couldn't keep her her legs together or her feet on the floor.

At the very least, this is a major awards contender, and at best, and hopefully for its director Alon Schwarz, this is the start of a long and successful career in film-making. A story that reunites two long lost brothers after 60 years apart is utterly heart-breaking from the start, gripping throughout, and heart warming at the end. With a story so personal to its director (as its his own Uncle that this film revolves around), and with such emotional, historic and universal themes (of brotherly love, and discovering the truth about your parents), this will connect with all who see it and is sure to move you, to bring a tear to your eye and to make you think about it and discuss it long after the film finishes. A documentary that seems like a feature film because the story is so gripping, the research so impeccable and the film making so skillful that this only deserves to find a major theatrical release amongst independent cinemas across the world. Look out for it at many upcoming awards festivals. I saw this in London last week and look forward to seeing it again!

This was a sad story that I'm sure many families are finding out w/the new DNA and the Ancestry that we can now obtain!! Those families torn apart during and after the war..if they survived seems have so many unanswered family questions! I just wish in the beginning of the document and throughout I didnt have to read the sub-caption. It was white letters and not always visibly readable!! Thank you for sharing this German Family story!!

source: Aida's Secrets

If you don't mind reading subtitles and you also enjoy a realist ending, this film will do. The main character, Aida says "I did my very best" and if you had been a teenage Jewish girl taken from your family (and never saw them again) and sent into servitude -you would have made some painful decisions along life's roads, as Aida did. I found Shep's understanding toward a his mother to be very touching. The new found joy between long lost brothers to brought tears to the eyes. Shep's story seems like it could be a movie in its own right. Izak appeared to truly struggle with the unknowns of his story. Just when he thinks he knows and has found peace it slips from his fingers. I can understand how it could leave him feeling like unfinished puzzle. Some of his pieces he seemed to have thrown out-with his adoptive brother and sister and the bitterness he showed towards them. I hope he will let them be part of his unknown history and find peace with what he does know.