Imagine you’re a 12 year old child during World War II and you live in the Polish Ghetto. The Nazis come, after having obliterated most of the city, and take away the only family you have and most everyone else in the ghetto. Now imagine that you must live there all alone in the rubble for many months while waiting and hoping for the return of your father.
That’s the premise of this wonderful story and while it starts out a little slow it has the tendency to grow on you and you become more and more vested in the welfare of little Alex who’s trying desperately to survive amid fear and want.
The last thing his father told him as he was being hauled off by the Germans is that Alex should run and hide and wait – wait until he comes for him. It takes a great deal of trust because that’s want Alex does. Even though several opportunities arise that would allow Alex to leave safely, he doesn’t go. Instead, he does as he was told and waits.
The drama unfolds watching Alex’s ingenious ways of maneuvering through the rubble, finding food and building a home for himself, while the Germans are never too far off. And as Alex sits and waits in grinding poverty, a short distance over the Ghetto wall he watches the rest of the people in the city work and play and go about their various buisnesses.
It stars Patrick Bergin as Stefan, the father, Jack Warden as Uncle Baruch and Jordan Kiziuk as Alex.
Lotta says this is a beautifully directed and photographed film with wonderful music to set the dramatic mood.