Watch Farewell, Herr Schwarz

Farewell, Herr Schwarz is a poignant and deeply personal documentary film by Israeli filmmaker Yael Reuveny. The film tells the story of her family and their complicated and painful history, spanning multiple generations and continents. At the heart of the film is the mysterious figure of Feiv’ke Schwarz, Yael’s great-uncle, who disappeared from his family’s lives in 1942 during the Holocaust. His absence has been a source of pain and mystery for Yael’s family for generations, and the film sets out to uncover the truth about what happened to him.

The film is structured around Yael’s journey to Germany and Ukraine, where she seeks out clues about Feiv’ke’s life and death. Along the way, she meets a range of people who have their own connections to Feiv’ke and his family, including his daughter and her family, the Jewish community in Feiv’ke’s hometown, and a group of Ukrainian villagers who have their own complicated relationship to the Holocaust.

Through interviews, archival footage, and images of the contemporary landscapes where Feiv’ke lived and died, the film builds a complex and nuanced portrait of a man and a family caught up in the tragic events of the 20th century. The story that emerges is one of loss and survival, of love and betrayal, and of the enduring power of family ties.

One of the most striking things about Farewell, Herr Schwarz is the way it weaves together personal storytelling with larger historical themes. Yael’s journey to uncover the truth about Feiv’ke’s life and death is also a journey to confront the larger legacy of the Holocaust and the complex and often fraught relationship between Germany, Ukraine, and Israel.

At the same time, the film also explores the dynamics of memory and trauma within families. As Yael delves deeper into Feiv’ke’s story, she also begins to uncover uncomfortable truths about her own family’s past and the ways in which the Holocaust has shaped their lives and relationships.

Despite the weighty themes and subject matter, Farewell, Herr Schwarz is also a deeply moving and often surprisingly funny film. Yael’s warmth and empathy as a filmmaker, as well as her wit and humor, shine through in every scene, creating moments of poignant beauty and genuine connection with the people she meets along the way.

Ultimately, the film is a testament to the power of storytelling to heal wounds and bridge divides. By bearing witness to her family’s history and sharing it with the world, Yael Reuveny has created a powerful and deeply human work of art that speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a turbulent world.

In short, Farewell, Herr Schwarz is a must-see documentary film that explores complex themes of history, memory, and family with grace, humor, and deep feeling. It is a powerful and human work of art that will linger in the viewer’s mind long after the credits have rolled.

Farewell, Herr Schwarz is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 72.