Explore The Story World of Jerusalem for Film, Novel, Stage

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Storytelling Through Feature Film

The following films have two features in common: They all deal with the Holocaust, and therefore, they are stories of the Jewish people BEFORE the birth of the modern State of Israel, with Jerusalem as the ancient, Biblical, eternal capital of the Jewish people.

For the writer, these films are a turning point in understanding how historical epics can shape a nation and a people through film. Each story employs the genres of memoir-true story/historical epic/drama.

Porcelain Unicorn

Genre: Memoir/True Story/Drama 3-Minute Short Film
This is a brilliant short film that won many awards. I’ll break the script down into its Story Beats. In just three minutes, all of the Story Beats are there! Please note that dialog does not carry a story, whether it’s a film, stage play, or novel. What carries a story are value systems and moral choices. This film only has seven lines of dialog!

Premise: When a young Nazi boy discovers a young Jewish girl in hiding, he rebels to fend off her capture.
Designing Principle: A boy’s courage when he goes against the norm can overcome oppression.
Theme: Repression cannot stifle human courage.

Europa, Europa

Genres: Memoir/True Story/Drama/Historical epic

This is the epic story of war from the perspective of the Hero, a German Jewish 14-year-old teenager caught up in WWII. The Hero’s story of survival in a world gone mad with the backdrop of the Holocaust is but one of the themes running through this story line.

La Rafflé (The Roundup)

French film with English subtitles
Genres: Drama/Historical Epic/Thriller

Premise according to imdb.com: A faithful retelling of the 1942 “Vel d’Hiv Roundup” and the events surrounding it. I would re-write this Premise: When a young, Christian nurse is caught up in the 1942 “Vel d’Hiv Roundup” in France, she risks her life to provide help and care to the mass of Jewish humanity destined for extermination.