The Devil's Arithmetic (1999) (TV)

Director:

Donna Deitch

Writers (WGA):

Jane Yolen (novel)
Robert J. Avrech (teleplay)

Release Date:

28 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

Live to tell

Plot:

This is another telling of the holocaust, but this time from the perspective of a modern teenage girl...

Plot Keywords:

Concentration Camp | Holocaust | WWII | Based On Novel

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Kirsten Dunst	...	Hannah Stern
Brittany Murphy	...	Rivkah
Paul Freeman	...	Rabbi
Mimi Rogers	...	Leonore Stern
Louise Fletcher	...	Aunt Eva
Lilo Baur	...	Mina
Nitzan Sharron	...	Ariel
Shelly Skandrani	...	Leah
Daniel Brocklebank	...	Shmuel
Kirsty McFarland	...	Yetta
Rachel Roddy	...	Esther
Ieva Jackeviciute	...	Miriam
Philip Rham	...	Commandant Krieger
Daniel Rausch	...	Officer Steinbach
Paulina Soloveicik	...	Sarah
Stewart Bick	...	Burton Stern
Rimantas Bagdzevicius	...	Photographer Mendel
Liubomiras Lauciavicius	...	Doctor Hauptman (as Lubomiras Laucevicius)
Sonata Paliukaityte	...	Gertrud
Vaidotas Martinaitis	...	Hans
Gabija Grusaite	...	Girl
Dominika Lekaite	...	Girl
Rugile Sablinskaite	...	Girl
Laura Selmistraite	...	Girl
Inga Tuminiene	...	Ingrid
Nijole Narmontaite	...	Hedwig
Saulis Siparis	...	Clumsy Guard (as Saulius Siparis)
Arvydas Dapsys	...	Efficient Guard
Leonardas Pobedonoscevas	...	Isaac
Mantas Vaitiekunas	...	Vossel
Lina Avizienis	...	Dorrie
Janina Matiekonyte	...	Sophie
Vilija Ramanauskaite	...	Lily
Robertas Urbonas	...	Recorder
Andrius Zebrauskas	...	Recorder
Algimantas Maceina	...	Guard
Vitalis Gruodis	...	Old Man on Crutch
Louis Negin	...	Uncle Morris
Myra Fooden	...	Aunt Ethel
Aron Tager	...	Uncle Abe
Roselle Stone	...	Aunt Fanny
Harvey Sokoloff	...	Cousin David (as Harve Sokoloff)
Hayley Hofbauer	...	Elana
David Felton	...	Jeremy
Abigail Plener	...	Leda
Ava Fitch	...	Aliza
Caterina Scorsone	...	Jessica
Heather Bertram	...	Mary
Ace Daniels	...	Tattoo Artist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Himself (Introduces Film) (uncredited)

Directed by
Donna Deitch

Writing credits (WGA)
Jane Yolen		(novel)
Robert J. Avrech		(teleplay)

Produced by
Robert J. Avrech	....	co-executive producer
Chris Ciaffa	....	executive producer
Jay Cohen	....	executive producer
Lee Gottsegen	....	producer
Dustin Hoffman	....	executive producer
Tom Kuhn	....	producer
Mimi Rogers	....	executive producer
Murray Schisgal	....	producer
Robertas Urbonas	....	co-producer
Fred Weintraub	....	producer
Kerry Zook	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Frédéric Talgorn

Cinematography by
Jacek Laskus

Film Editing by
Robin Katz

Casting by
Jurga Surhaite		(as Jurga Surnaite)
Dalia Vizgirdaite

Production Design by
Gregory Melton

Art Direction by
Galius Klicius
Bob Sher

Set Decoration by
Jaunius Genutis
Jurgita Gerdvilaite
Marlene Graham
Jurgita Lukoseviciute
Asta Urbonaite
Egis Vaitkevicius

Costume Design by
Alex Kavanagh
Daiva Petrulyte

Makeup Department
Kristina Miceniene	....	assistant hair stylist: Vilnius
Kristina Miceniene	....	assistant makeup artist: Vilnius
Vaida Navickaite	....	assistant hair stylist: Vilnius
Vaida Navickaite	....	assistant makeup artist: Vilnius
Lucy Orton	....	supervising hair stylist: Toronto
Jolanta Rudenko	....	assistant hair stylist: Vilnius
Jolanta Rudenko	....	assistant makeup artist: Vilnius
Jordan Samuel	....	supervising makeup artist
Moira Verwijk	....	supervising hair stylist: Vilnius
Vida Vitkute	....	assistant hair stylist: Vilnius
Vida Vitkute	....	assistant makeup artist: Vilnius

Production Management
David Bailey	....	post-production supervisor
Armand Leo	....	executive in charge of production
Mara McSweeny	....	production manager: Toronto
Lina Miseikyte	....	production manager: Vilnius
Chad Tomasoski	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rita Clifford	....	second assistant director: Vilnius (as Rita Samoskaite)
Kestas Drazdaukas	....	coordinating assistant director: Vilnius (as Kestutis Drazdauskas)
Tania Jakovleva	....	first assistant director: Vilnius
Ernestas Jankauskas	....	second second assistant director: Vilnius
Tom Quinn	....	first assistant director: Toronto
Michele Rakich	....	second assistant director: Toronto

Art Department
Paul Dallin	....	property master: Toronto
Dwight Doerksen	....	construction coordinator: Toronto
Rimantas Gailius	....	property master: Vilnius
Bronius Galvydius	....	supervising painter: Vilnius
Jaunius Genutis	....	set decorator: Vilnius
Jurgita Gerdvilaite	....	set decorator: Vilnius
Marlene Graham	....	set decorator: Toronto
Galius Klicius	....	art director: Vilnius
Jurgita Lukoseviciute	....	set decorator: Vilnius
Gintas Matonis	....	construction coordinator: Vilnius
Rokas Rudzionis	....	swing gang
Bob Sher	....	art director: Toronto
Asta Urbonaite	....	set decorator: Vilnius
Egis Vaitkevicius	....	set decorator: Vilnius
Genovaite Vidauskaite	....	art department assistant: Vilnius
Tatjana Zemciugova	....	property assistant: Vilnius
Anthony A. Ianni	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Arturas Vaitulevicius	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
William H. Angarola	....	supervising sound editor (as William Angarola)
Zane D. Bruce	....	foley artist (as Zane Bruce)
Kevin Patrick Burns	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Kevin Burns)
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
Stuart French	....	production sound mixer
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don Givens	....	foley mixer
Robert Guastini	....	sound editor
Rick Hinson	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ken Lee	....	boom operator
Anna MacKenzie	....	adr editor
Anna MacKenzie	....	dialogue editor
Anna MacKenzie	....	sound editor
Mike Marchain	....	sound editor
Joseph T. Sabella	....	foley artist (as Joe Sabella)
Warren Smith	....	sound editor
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist (as Tammy Treadwell)
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4 (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Darius Cicenas	....	special effects assistant
Michael Clifford	....	special effects coordinator
Edvinas Urbonas	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Stanislav Adamickij	....	stunts
Vladislavas Jacukevicius	....	stunts
Giedrius Nagys	....	stunt coordinator
Ruta Nemaniene	....	stunts
Slava Samuchov	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Alexander	....	focus puller
Algis Babravicius	....	still photographer (as Algimantas Babravicius)
John Botelho	....	chief lighting technician: Toronto
Linas Dikcius	....	grip
Nimi Getter	....	chief lighting technician: Vilnius
Vytaitas Gudlevicius	....	dolly grip: Vilnius (as Vytas Gudlevicius)
Vidmantas Gurklys	....	electrician: Vilnius
Stanislov Guscia	....	dolly grip: Vilnius
Antanas Jucys	....	second assistant camera: second camera
Rimas Jurgelevicius	....	electrician
Andrew Macklin	....	second assistant camera
David Mason	....	first company grip: Toronto
Valius Nikolenka	....	first assistant camera: second camera
Genadj Paskevic	....	electrician: Vilnius (as Genadij Paskevic)
Vydmantas Plepys	....	camera loader
Holly Stein	....	still photographer
Des Whelan	....	camera operator
Algirdas Zitkevicius	....	assistant chief lighting technician: Vilnius
Darius Zolmonas	....	electrician: Vilnius (as Darius Zalmonas)
Rob Goldstein	....	camera trainee: Toronto (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dobile Budryte	....	casting assistant
Jerry Gelb	....	adr voice casting
Goda Rupeikaite	....	casting assistant
Jurga Surhaite	....	extras casting (as Jurga Surnaite)
Dalia Vizgirdaite	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rachel Archer	....	wardrobe supervisor: Toronto
Virginija Baliukiene	....	wardrobe assistant: Vilnius
Greta Bogusiene	....	wardrobe assistant: Vilnius
Indre Ramoskaite	....	assistant costume designer
Juneta Sereikaite	....	wardrobe assistant: Vilnius
Ilona Skrockiene	....	wardrobe assistant: Vilnius
Ruta Tamuleviciene	....	wardrobe supervisor: Vilnius
Gintaras Tamulevicius	....	wardrobe assistant: Vilnius
Gerda Tumkeviciute	....	wardrobe assistant: Vilnius
Juara Zikiene	....	wardrobe assistant: Vilnius
Stephanie Lees	....	assistant costume supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Roger La Prairie	....	telecine colorist (as Roger LaPrairie)
Robert Lattanzio	....	assistant editor
Sue Mitchell	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Terry Delsing	....	music scoring mixer
Virginia S. Ellsworth	....	music editor (as Virginia Ellsworth)
Zalmen Mlotek	....	consultant: Yiddisch/Klezmer music
Susan Pilcher	....	music coordinator
Spencer Proffer	....	supervising music producer
Gael MacGregor	....	music administrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Darius Jarasunas	....	transportation coordinator: Vilnius
Evan Siegel	....	transportation coordinator: Toronto
Andres Vosu	....	transportation captain: Toronto

Other crew
Saverina Allevato	....	script supervisor: Toronto
Vladas Barakauskas	....	craft service
Aleksandr Belous	....	customs coordinator: Vilnius
Edvardas Bistrickas	....	garage supervisor: Vilnius
Ginny Campbell	....	co-production coordinator
John Constable	....	tutor
Ilona Dranseikaite	....	production secretary: Vilnius
Olga Fariga	....	location manager: Vilnius
Gina Fowler	....	production coordinator
Larry Garrison	....	unit publicist
David Hardy	....	production coordinator: Toronto
Irena Juskauskiene	....	production auditor: Vilnius
Birute Kersiene	....	cashier: Vilnius
Danute Majevska	....	cashier: Vilnius (as Danuta Majevska)
Ted Miller	....	location manager: Toronto
Ilona Nagrodskyte	....	craft service
Mykolas Nugaras	....	armorer
Viktorija Rudolevic	....	production auditor: Vilnius
Vida Scesnuleviciene	....	on-set doctor
B.E. Sharp	....	production auditor: Toronto
Marija Sineviciene	....	translator
Stase Tiskeviciute	....	office assistant: Vilnius
Asta Urbaite	....	assistant: Donna Deitch
Rasa Venceviciene	....	script supervisor: Vilnius
Marius Vilunas	....	production assistant: Vilnius
Jackie Weintraub	....	production consultant (as Jackie Dubey Weintraub)
Tomas Zvigaitis	....	production assistant: Vilnius
Vanessa Brustolin	....	assistant production coordinator: Canada (uncredited)
Pamela Hackwell	....	contact lens technician (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Lietuvos Kinostudija (service providing company)
• Millbrook Farm Productions
• Punch Productions
• Showtime Networks

Distributors

• AXN (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Showtime Networks
• Universal Pictures Nordic (Sweden)

Other Companies

• Ear Whacks!  walla group
• Lietuvos Kinostudija  production services

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:12 | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-11 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Lithuania

Company:

Lietuvos Kinostudija

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

A Rather Good Film

I actually liked this when I saw it on TV. A lot of people probably saw the cut, shorter version on (station named after famous novel written down by Homer, following the Iliad) in the US. But I got to see the whole version, and, after having read the book several times, I can say that it is a very good book. It makes Hannah (or Chaya, in the book) look like the spoiled wild-child that the book did not develop enough, and the other characters were perfect in their roles. The acting was good, the sets were realistic and quaint, and the storyline is historically accurate, as well as to the mark on the book. In short, it's a very good film.