Watch Saul & Ruby's Holocaust Survivor Band

Saul & Ruby's Holocaust Survivor Band is a heartwarming documentary film directed by Tod Lending in 2020. The film follows the journey of two Holocaust survivors, Saul Dreier and Ruby Sosnowicz, who formed a klezmer band together in their late 80s. Saul and Ruby were both teenagers when they were imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. They survived the horrors of the Holocaust, but their families did not. After the war, they made their way to the United States, started families, and built new lives.

Almost 70 years later, Saul and Ruby found each other at a Holocaust survivor event and bonded over their shared love of music. They decided to start a klezmer band to share their music and their stories with the world. They recruited other Holocaust survivors to join them, including pianist Lea Weil, accordionist Chana Rose, and trumpeter Alby Zweig.

The band started performing at nursing homes and community centers, but eventually gained larger audiences and even performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Their music was a way to heal from the trauma of their past and to celebrate their survival.

The film is an intimate portrait of Saul and Ruby’s friendship and their band’s journey. We see them practice and perform together, sharing memories of their lost loved ones and their lives in the camps. We also see their families and the impact that their experiences have had on subsequent generations.

Despite the heaviness of their past, the film is a celebration of life, friendship, and music. It shows how music can connect people across generations and cultures, and how it can be a powerful tool for healing.

The film is beautifully shot and edited, with a mix of performance footage and intimate interviews. The music is the heart of the film, and the klezmer pieces performed by the band are both joyful and haunting. The film also includes historical footage and photographs, providing context for the survivors’ experiences.

The subject matter of the film is heavy, but it is not a depressing film. It is a testament to the human spirit and the resilience of the survivors. And it is a reminder of the importance of listening to and learning from the stories of the survivors of the Holocaust, especially as they become fewer in number.

In conclusion, Saul & Ruby's Holocaust Survivor Band is a touching and inspiring documentary that tells the story of the two Holocaust survivors who, despite unimaginable trauma, found joy and camaraderie through music. It is a tribute to their resilience and an important reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and the importance of remembering and honoring its survivors.

Saul & Ruby's Holocaust Survivor Band is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.