ere is the Cleveland Film Festival's synopsis of The Children of Chabannes,"The 1999 Emmy Award-winning documentary from notable director Lisa Gossels, THE CHILDREN OF CHABANNES tells the story of the over 400 Jewish children who fled to France from 1939-1943 to avoid Nazi concentration camps. As World War II began, many parents made the excruciatingly difficult decision to separate from their children in order to save them. Some of those children lucky enough to escape Germany were shipped off to the Château de Chabannes, a public school and dormitory located in an insulated region of rural France and created to house and educate orphaned and displaced Jewish children. The school was established by a man named Félix Chevrier. He was joined by a handful of remarkably brave and selfless educators who gave these abandoned children, most of whom never saw their parents again, a chance to grow up. But as the Nazis advanced, World War II inevitably reached the doorsteps of the Château in 1942, causing the teachers to risk their own lives in order to keep the children from being deported to death camps. Told through interviews with surviving teachers and students of Chabannes, including Gossels' father who attended the school, THE CHILDREN OF CHABANNES is a celebration of humanity and courage during one of the most tragic periods of our history. (In French and English with subtitles) – M.M."
Personal Issues: I have always been interested in the Holocaust and I believe it's vitally important to remember and honor Holocaust victims and survivors and to educate as many people as possible about the horrors and the bravery of that time in our history. The Children of Chabannes struck a really emotional chord in me because not only was it about Holocaust victims but it was about children. The innocence of children should never be exposed to the horrors of this world, but during the Holocaust Jewish children were subjected to racism, humiliation, separation from their families, and death. This subject matter is extremely powerful and so it was very emotionally touching. I definitely feel like other viewers were stuck emotionally by the film because many people around me were crying during the film. Another aspect that I loved about this film was that the "saviors" of these children were teachers! The refuge of Chateau Chabannes was a school and the brave warriors that helped protect the children were teachers. Two sisters, Irene and Renee Paillasou, taught the children valuable lessons not only in the classroom but throughout everyday life. Theirsand the other teachers at Chabannes are truly inspiring.
Technique: The movie was a documentary so there were some great photographs of the children and workers of the Chateau Chabannes. The film was shot in France and so there is an abundance of gorgeous scenery. The music was quant and in my limited experience or knowledge about France, very "French" sounding. The shots involving the schools founder, Félix Chevrier, who was portrayed by an actor, were interesting in that while he walked in the woods, a daily habit of his, is showed only his feet and legs or a blurry glance of his upper half. I'm not sure about the reasoning behind this, but I found it interesting. The narrator was the film maker, Lisa Gossels, and I hated her voice. It was annoying and it took away from the film's content.
Acting: This was a true documentary so most of the "actors" were not actors at all but the actual people who experienced the story.
Plot: I already laid out the plot above, so please re-read that section if there are any questions about the plot. This question asks how "compelling" I found the plot. Well, for the entire film I was completely enthralled. I loved the story and
thought it was wonderfully developed.
Themes: The major issues or themes of the film were hope, courage, heroism, cruelty, learning from the past, the power of kindness, tolerance, and racism. The plot was straightforward but the beautiful themes of the story, courage in spite of incredible opposition and the resilience of the human spirit, were interwoven throughout the entire telling of this incredible story.
Genre: This film falls under the genre of historical documentary. I think this type of film is and has been popular because the lessons of the past are always worth learning. Documentaries, when they are well done, and be excellent learning tool for any classroom, but especially English. I believe literature and history go hand in hand and many historical events, such as the Holocaust, can be better understood though teaching books such as The Diary of Anne Frank or The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reis.
Representation: This film represents the French teachers and workers at the Chateau Chabannes, the French villagers, and the Jewish children. The French teachers and workers are strong, practical, sacrificing, hard working, and selfless. The French villagers are simple, kind, hard working, and set in their ways. The Jewish children are smart, mature, war wearied and worn, and most of all they are simply children. The reasons for these representations are that the teachers and workers gave all they had to help the Jewish people; the French Villagers are seen farming and mulling around their tiny town; and the children are seen leaving their parents behind, running and hiding and enduring extreme hardship, and laughing and playing and enjoying life despite all of its adversity.
Themes: The major issues or themes of the film were hope, courage, heroism, cruelty, learning from the past, the power of kindness, tolerance, and racism. The plot was straightforward but the beautiful themes of the story, courage in spite of incredible opposition and the resilience of the human spirit, were interwoven throughout the entire telling of this incredible story.
Genre: This film falls under the genre of historical documentary. I think this type of film is and has been popular because the lessons of the past are always worth learning. Documentaries, when they are well done, and be excellent learning tool for any classroom, but especially English. I believe literature and history go hand in hand and many historical events, such as the Holocaust, can be better understood though teaching books such as The Diary of Anne Frank or The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reis.
Representation: This film represents the French teachers and workers at the Chateau Chabannes, the French villagers, and the Jewish children. The French teachers and workers are strong, practical, sacrificing, hard working, and selfless. The French villagers are simple, kind, hard working, and set in their ways. The Jewish children are smart, mature, war wearied and worn, and most of all they are simply children. The reasons for these representations are that the teachers and workers gave all they had to help the Jewish people; the French Villagers are seen farming and mulling around their tiny town; and the children are seen leaving their parents behind, running and hiding and enduring extreme hardship, and laughing and playing and enjoying life despite all of its adversity.
Ideology: The idea of tolerance was strong throughout the film. The historical message that the Nazis were part of a horrific genocide was obviously present.
Here are few interesting websites about the film!
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