David

Often at random told, unbalanced and as a result not easy to follow sensitive drama; Lilienthal aims for atmosphere rather than story telling. Because of the loose structure this aiming for atmosphere is limited to individual scenes rather than the film as a whole; but he does it well. In this he is supported by sharp cinematography and good cast.

Rating 8 stars, movie in HD quality available

Nazi-Germany in 1933: David Singer is a modest boy, the son of a rabbi, who tries to get along in Silesian society despite his jewish background. He lives with his parents and sister in Liegnitz (today it is named Legnica as part of Poland) about 100 miles east of Dresden.

Living conditions are rapidly deteriorating, although the Singer family is trying hard not to give the oppressors any reason to treat them badly. Cut off from all escape routes in the midst of war, they must hide and eventually separate to seek survival on their own.

Director Peter Lilienthal's decent 1979 artwork, whose strength is its realism, shows fatalistic people, whether German or Jewish, in a downward spiral with no escape, without zooming or panning. He just changed the focus! In short, worth seeing, despite the slow start.

Shown on the International Channel, DAVID (1979) is an above average film about the Jewish holocaust. We see the central character's family fairly safe and secure in Leignitz, Germany at the start of 1933. David's family is unaware of the advancing Nazi plague. When the Nazis begin to become active, most Germans are seen to be indifferent. When the treatment of the Jews becomes brutal, we see the many ways in which the Leignitz Jews react.

The promos for DAVID claim that the film is about a boy surviving only on his wits as he travels from Hitler's Germany to the Middle East. In truth, this is not the plot at all. The escape from Germany amounts to only 20 or 30 seconds of visual dissolves.

DAVID is about the holocaust in Germany from the Jewish point of view. David and his friends and family seek refuge from the Nazis. We see some Jews be overly optimistic. We see some give up. We see many view what is taking place in utter disbelief -- a feeling that successfully transfers to the audience. DAVID is subtle rather than epic. It has a factual tone, rather than filled with grand dramatics. I have not seen a holocaust movie that is any better.

I originally read the very good autobiography 'David' and was then inspired to track down this movie.

Made in 1979, therefore quite early for feature films that explore the subject of The Holocaust.

It's also a German film, with English subtitles which immediately gives it a power and resonance. When originally released it did very well in Germany & won at least one major award at Berlin.

'David' is about a young Jewish man, who manages to survive the war actually living in hiding in Berlin (Jews who hid in Nazi Germany were nicknamed 'submarines')...while he witnesses and suffers his family's deportation, one by one.

The narrative is strangely disjointed at times...but the film is made so sensitively, understatedly & powerfully that it doesn't seem to matter. The period detail is so accurate and the relationships are deeply formed. The charming understated soundtrack also adds depth and poignancy.

If the subject of The Holocaust interests you, I wouldn't hesitate recommending you track this film down.