Finding Manny (2020)

The chance discovery of an online article sends Manny Drukier, a Holocaust survivor, on an unexpected trip to visit the orphanage where he was rescued to after the war.

Director:

Kacey Cox

Writers:

Kacey Cox (Writer), Madalina Hubert (story development)

Stars:

Manny Drukier, Anna Andlauer, Stephen Baldwin

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Manny Drukier	...	Manny
Anna Andlauer	...	Anna
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen Baldwin	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

The chance discovery of an article sends a Holocaust survivor on an unexpected trip to visit the orphanage where he was rescued to after the war. Manny Drukier narrowly escaped the war by jumping from a "death train" at age 16, finding refuge at a unique home for orphans and displaced children. 71 years later, Manny is tracked down by a German researcher who has dedicated a decade of her life to locating the surviving children from the home. She invites Manny to return to the orphanage, which has since become a grade school, to share his story with the next generation. Manny must now revisit the places of his darkest memories, to reconcile the past and educate the future. Narrated by Stephen Baldwin, Finding Manny shares a powerful theme of optimism and makes "never again" have meaning for the next generation.

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Plot Keywords:

auschwitz | survivor | holocaust | orphanage | genocide | 

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Taglines:

70 years after escaping from a Nazi death train-an empowering story of optimism through the darkest of moments.

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Genres:

Documentary

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User Reviews

A thoughtful, sweet and accessible film about a difficult subject

The documentary is very important and powerful in the way that it is uniquely accessible and moving:

Like Manny, I think the viewer is similarly on a difficult journey. With that said, the film is "accessible" because it is humanized by the family, whom offer relief and levity. Also, the viewer may align themselves with particular family members whom they may perceive to process this journey similarly. For young people, this may be the case with Manny's grandson, which may be very helpful.

The film is particularly "moving" as it very effectively illustrates man's inhumanity to man in an unfictionalized and intimate way. As Manny shared when he watched films about the Holocaust, "it was not that way". Although we can exercise the suspension of belief when we watch scripted film's like "Schindler's List", it is still in the end just "a movie". As such, we walk away from the theater, although we are effected, we may not necessarily deeply accept and process the reality of the inhumanity we have just witnessed. In the case of this documentary, the viewer must absolutely process the reality of Manny's experience and in that way it is (for me) uniquely deeply moving and impactful.

In my case, the film reminded me of "the luck" of some of my struggles (heart transplant, etc) and in that way called me (and reminded me) to continue to celebrate the joy and abundance of my "second chance". I feel in many ways, I very happily share Manny's optimism and providence. ;)

Details

Official Sites:

Official Website

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

Finding Manny

Filming Locations:

Poland

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Long Trek Home Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Color:

Color