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 & 15 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:

hare krishna | poland | canada | piano | world war two | 

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Taglines:

He found himself in the love around him.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality

Details

Country:

Greece Canada

Language:

English Greek Yiddish German

Release Date:

9 May 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beglio užrašai

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$102,212, 4 May 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$634,379, 10 August 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinegram,Serendipity Point Films,Strada Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

gentle telling of a haunted life

Jakob Beer (Stephen Dillane) and Alex (Rosamund Pike) seem to be a happy Toronto couple but Alex finds his journal where he fears losing his identity to Alex. He is haunted by his past and they split up. His Polish family was destroyed by the Nazis and his sister Bella (Nina Dobrev) was taken by them. Jakob (Robbie Kay) was rescued by Greek archaeologist Athos Roussos (Rade Šerbedžija). In Greece, they fear the occupying Nazis and escape to Canada. In Toronto, they befriend their Jewish neighbors who escaped from Warsaw.

This is a gentle telling of a horrifying tale. The adult Jakob is fine but it is the chemistry between Rade and the younger Jakob that is so touching. Rade is so powerful and the kid is so fragile. The movie does miss Rade when he's gone. However, it doesn't mean Jakob's later relationship isn't just as compelling. There is a dreamy, gentle tone throughout.