The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies will present a free screening of Where Is Anne Frank with director Ari Folman, one of Israel’s most acclaimed filmmakers, on Sunday, Nov. 6.
Where Is Anne Frank brings the famous diary of Anne Frank to the big screen from an unusual perspective, that of Anne’s imaginary friend, Kitty, to whom the diary was originally addressed. Kitty comes to “life” in the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Having only the knowledge offered in the diary pages, Kitty journeys into modern-day Amsterdam to discover what happened to her creator and good friend Anne after the diary ended abruptly.
The film reflects on the horrors of the Holocaust. Through Kitty’s exposure to the plight of refugees in modern Amsterdam, it leads the audience to ask if we learned anything from the most horrific genocide in the history of mankind.
The film provides a wonderful cultural and artistic experience as well as an educational opportunity. It offers magical animation work and pop culture vignettes that will appeal to young and older viewers, thereby encouraging a cross-generational conversation on the Holocaust, refugees, and racism.
This special pre-release screening is part of the director’s first tour to the U.S. to promote the new film. The University of Arizona is one of the leading American universities that will host the director and the film.
Folman is an Israeli director, animator and composer. His animated documentary Waltz with Bashir (2008) about the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. While working on Where Is Anne Frank, Folman in collaboration with Israeli illustrator David Polonksy also published Anne Frank’s Diary: A Graphic Adaptation. Folman is the son of two Holocaust survivors and lives in Israel.
Co-sponsors of the screening include The Loft Cinema, UA School of Theatre, Film, and Television, Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, The Pozez Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, Tucson Jewish Community Center, Marriott Tucson University Park, and Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center.
The presentation begins with a reception at 9:30 a.m., followed by the film at 10:00 a.m. Registration is required; click here for registration and tickets.
