YaelHersonski'spowerfuldocumentaryachievesaremarkablefeatthroughitspenetratinglookatanotherfilm-thenow-infamousNazi-producedfilmabouttheWarsawGhetto.Discoveredafterthewar,theunfinishedwork,withnosoundtrack,quicklybecamearesourceforhistoriansseekinganauthenticrecord,despiteitselaboratepropagandisticconstruction.Thelaterdiscoveryofalong-missingreelcomplicatedearlierreadings,showingthemanipulationsofcameracrewsinthese"everyday"scenes.Well-heeledJewsattendingelegantdinnersandtheatricals(whilecallouslysteppingoverthedeadbodiesofcompatriots)nowappearedasunwilling,butcomplicit,actors,alternatelyfearfulandindenialoftheirloomingfate.——WrittenbySundanceFilmFestival
