A new documentary coming out this year is set to tell untold stories about the Holocaust.
The film, “Among Neighbors,” screened at Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village Tuesday night.
What You Need To Know
For the first time, Polish Jews opened up to a filmmaker about their experiences as World War II ended
The people interviewed described Jews being killed by their neighbors after the war was already over
The theme of antisemitism is central in the documentary, which the filmmaker says remains relevant today
“Holocaust survivors are only with us for a little while longer,” said Yoav Potash, the filmmaker. “So if we are going to hear anything more directly from them, it has to happen now.”
He said this was not a story he intended to go out and tell. But as he learned more, he said these were stories he knew he needed to share. The documentary took 10 years to make.
For the first time, Polish Jews opened up to Potash about their experiences as World War II ended — and about how some were murdered in the weeks and months after by their own neighbors.
“Because of kind of a deadly cocktail of antisemitism,” he said, explaining why this occurred. He added that the themes of antisemitism displayed in Poland then remain relevant to this day.
Last year, the Anti-Defamation League tracked 976 antisemitic incidents in New York City.
“It’s of course shocking to see swastikas, or hear of these really extreme antisemitic incidents that are still happening,” Potash said.
Potash plans on touring the country — and the world — sharing his new film.