March 1968 - Jewish Film Festival
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24/10/2022 until 27/11/2022
March 1968 is a modern Romeo and Juliet story with a twist. It combines romance, history, politics, and antisemitism all set in 1960s communist Poland.
Students Hania (Vanessa Aleksander) and Janek (Ignacy Liss) begin an instant romance after meeting at a theatre performance one evening. Compelled by their love, they participate in a protest to defend freedom of the theatre and freedom of speech, but police brutality and violence ensue, separating the young couple and threatening their future together.
They know nothing of the political uprising around them: antisemitism is on the rise, and the persecution of Jewish citizens is gaining momentum. Hania is Jewish, and her parents lose their jobs in the growing climate of hostility. With no money and no prospects for the future, her family decides to emigrate. But the girl does not want to leave.
Directed by Krzysztof Lang this film very quickly becomes predictable only relieved by actual black and white footage of the rally, riots, buses leaving with Polish Jews and the checking of belongings for contraband.
Ther are some memorable scenes – when Hania is told she must leave and on the same day is proposed to by Janek, and the checking of her parents’ belongings and consequent removal of treasured items by the Germans.
While the film is beautifully shot, the script becomes repetitious, and I became less curious about halfway through. The film picks up interest in the last fifteen minutes (which are moving), but it is almost too late then.
Is it worth watching? Yes, as a reminder of what can be denied to innocent people whose only fault is their heritage. These are historical incidents that we need to be reminded of to ensure that we learn the lessons resulting from the grief of so many people.
In short, March 1968 is a film with good production values that has a message from which we can all learn.
Reviewed by Barry Hill