My Underground mother - Jewish International Film Festival 2026
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Date Reviewed: 27/10/2026
Reviewed by Juliet Morelli
When we learn about World War II and the experience of Jews during the Holocaust, rarely is light shed specifically on the experience of women.
When you consider that most Nazi leaders were men, it’s unfortunately unsurprising that Jewish women and girls were horrifically taken advantage of. This part of history doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.
Or maybe it shouldn’t get a lot of attention. Is it good to repeat and harp on about the horrors experienced, keeping the suffering alive? Should we let it stay in the past?
New York journalist Marisa Fox makes a huge contribution to this part of history, and to this question, through her documentary. Spurred on by the desire to find out the truth about her mother, we learn not only about her maternal history but also about a number of other Jewish women and how their stories intertwine.
It’s human nature to respond differently to suffering. Some bury it. Some embrace it. Some share it. Some want to completely forget it and start life again.
The documentary explores the different ways these women responded to suffering. Considering their ages now, and that they were mere girls back then, the vividness of their memories alone shows how deeply those experiences stayed with them.
But let’s go back to the story that drives this documentary: that of a daughter who had an inkling there was more to her mother’s story than she knew. And boy, was she right. As a daughter myself, I cannot imagine what it feels like not to know your mother, then to realise belatedly who she was—and, in Marisa’s case, to find it’s too late to truly talk to her about it. But hey, that’s how her mother wanted it after all.
To find the smallest loose thread in the makeup of who you are, pull it and unravel this remarkable story—that’s a one-of-a-kind adventure, albeit one filled with emotion. The breadth of the documentary and the contributions of so many survivors (not to forget those who never made it) offer insight into the human experience of dealing with pain.
I keep returning to one word: story. Story underpins this documentary—the story of a daughter, a mother, and women. So much humanity is here. It’s a credit to Marisa for connecting us through story.
Maybe this is why it matters to share stories through the generations: not to keep the suffering alive, but to connect with our shared humanity. To feel the pain through story, in a bid to ensure we don’t experience it in reality again.
The story that is often silenced, ignored or blamed can now be heard through this heartfelt documentary.