Avenue of the Giants

I knew Herbert Heller as a quiet gentle man who owned the store where I bought most of my children's clothes. This well-crafted and well-acted movie revealed his secrets in a compelling way. I would urge everyone who wants to see a different kind of Holocaust movie that ends with hope, to see this one as soon as it's available. I didn't realize that many of the contemporary scenes in the movie were shot in Marin, in a small town with big redwood trees everywhere. Local landmarks are somewhat recognizable, although I have yet to locate the awesome redwood trees where several scenes take place. Then there are the sights in Europe, some of which were also, sadly, familiar. The difficult scenes in the movie seemed essential to the story and not gratuitous. Sadly, the ill treatment of some humans by others has not yet abated in our world. Maybe this movie will restore some humanity in our world.