The Bottom Line
Pros
- Excellent insight into a part of 20th century history, through personal experiences.
- A story of great evil -- and how it affected real lives. Also about hope amidst the evil.
- The women in the story really do come alive -- you feel as if you know them by the end.
- Counterposes the beauty and energy of the young women, and a different beauty of the elderly.
- A story of the strength and wisdom of the elderly, whose energy and wisdom are central to the story.
Cons
- The reality of the story can make the movie an emotionally draining experience.
- The sound quality at the beginning wasn't too good; may just have been a bad copy.
Description
- Documentary of women swimmers of Hakoah, Austrian's Jewish sports club, in the 1930s and today.
- Includes interviews at the homes of the women, plus images of their reunion in Austria.
- Also includes movie footage and still photos from the 1930s depicting the athletes of Hakoah.
Guide Review - Watermarks
You'll learn about the story of women swimmers of Austria's Jewish sports club, Hakoah, founded to provide opportunities for Jewish athletes who were excluded by law from Austrian clubs.
One of the most powerful moments in the movie comes not from the images of the past, but from the words of a modern Austrian that remind us that the attitudes of the 1930s that allowed the Jews of Austria to be excluded from mainstream society are not just history, but still live subtly today. That was only one of several moments in the movie that brought me to tears.
The story of one swimmer who refused to go to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, because Hitler came to power, will live with me forever. I was moved by the story of her bravery in being, as the movie suggests, the "first person to say 'no' to Hitler," and the price she paid in losing not only an opportunity that athletes dream of -- to compete in the Olympic games -- but also in losing her standing with the Austrian sports community.
