SHOWTIMES: 9:45p - SUN 2/21
PART OF THE 2010 ATHENS JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
SPIELZEUGLAND or in English Translation TOYLAND is a short film by German director Jochen Alexander Freydank and won the 2009 Oscar in the category Best Short Film (Live Action).
Heinrich and David are two friends who are too young to understand why some people are being taken away. His mother, Mrs. Meissner, tells Heinrich that David and his fanily are going to Toyland. Heinrich wants to join them.
Mrs. Meissner's split second decision to save David by pretending that he is her own son and David's parents' look of sadness as well as gratitude as they pass their son into the hands of Heinrich's mother are the totally unexpected culmination of events in this film which also make it so powerful and moving.
Freydank, a director who was born and grew up in former East Germany, made this film also because he does not want people to forget about the Holocaust and what happened. It apparently took him 2 years to secure basic financing for his project. The film was produced with a budget of ca. $40,000, filmed in Berlin within 5 days and with the cast, most of them well known to the German audience, participating free of charge.
athensjff.org
