Fugitive Pieces (2007)

A child escapes from Poland during World War II and first heads to Greece before coming of age in Canada.

Director:

Jeremy Podeswa

Writers:

Anne Michaels (novel), Jeremy Podeswa

Stars:

Robbie Kay, Monika Schurmann, Nina Dobrev

7 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robbie Kay	...	Jakob Beer (child)
Monika Schurmann	...	Jakob's Mother
Nina Dobrev	...	Bella
Jordan Pettle	...	Jakob's Father
Rade Serbedzija	...	Athos Roussos (as Rade Sherbedgia)
Vieslav Krystyan	...	Polish Cab Driver
John Watson	...	German Checkpoint Soldier
Stephen Dillane	...	Jakob Beer
Rosamund Pike	...	Alex
Maggie Huculak	...	Librarian
Devon Bostick	...	Ben (Teenager)
Diego Matamoros	...	Jozef
Sarah Orenstein	...	Sara
Gray Powell	...	Alan
Dmitry Chepovetsky	...	John

Storyline

Middle aged Jakob Beer reflects on his life, this reflection which is all consuming. He is a Polish born and raised Jew. When he was an adolescent, his parents were shot dead and his sister Bella hauled away by the Nazis during World War II. Jakob witnessed these events from a hideout in their home. Running away, Jakob was found by Athos Roussos, a Greek national working on an archaeological project in Poland. Athos managed to smuggle Jakob out of Poland back to his native Greece. A few years later, Athos and Jakob moved to Canada where Athos began work as a teacher. Jakob has continual dreams about Bella, especially her piano playing but never knew Bella's ultimate fate. Jakob's reflections, especially the emotions stemming from his thoughts, lead to him becoming a writer of a successful book. His marriage to his first wife Alex, an outgoing and upbeat woman, fails because he can't get out of the somberness connected to his past at this time of his life. It isn't until he comes to ...

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Plot Keywords:

canada | poland | piano | world war two | author | 

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Taglines:

He found himself in the love around him.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Samuel Goldwyn Films [us]

Country:

Canada Greece

Language:

English Greek Yiddish German

Release Date:

26 March 2009 (Greece)

Also Known As:

La mémoire en fuite

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$102,212 (USA) (2 May 2008)

Gross:

$634,379 (USA) (8 August 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinegram, Harold Greenberg Fund, The, Serendipity Point Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Episode #5.40 (2008)

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Soundtracks

"O Tannenbaum"
(uncredited)
Traditional tune
Heard at the first Christmas party in Canada

User Reviews

A very moving account of the troubles of war

I won a pair of tickets to this film, not knowing much about it - what a lucky win it turned out to be.

War is a terrible thing and often tortures the remaining years for its survivors. For a child, of course, war's awful memories impact without the luxury of maturity and this story is but one among millions. But the story is told well and says something good about the human condition.

The film is beautifully shot and the locations are a treat for the eyes. The actors are each plausible in their roles and perform well. The story is very moving - take some tissues! Perhaps a little slow moving for some and perhaps a touch too long, it is nevertheless a very good film.