A Cicero Films Prods., Noga TV, IFS production. (International sales: Cicero Films Prods., Tel Aviv.) Produced, directed, written by Limor Pinhasov Ben Yosef, Yaron Kaftori Ben Yosef, based on a journal by Kazimierz Sakowicz.
With: Baruch Shuv, Mordechai Zeidel, Dr. Rachel Margolis, Tamar Shapira, William Good, Irena, Antwon, Edward, Jelena, Leonarda, Regina. (Russian, Polish, Lithuanian, Hebrew, English dialogue)
Using historical documents and witness testimonies, Holocaust docu "Out of the Forest" examines the executions at the forest killing pits near the Lithuanian village of Ponar, where around 100,000 people, mostly Jews, were killed between 1941-1944. Husband and wife helmers Limor Pinhasov Ben Yosef and Yaron Kaftori Ben Yosef let their passion and outrage shine through in this, their feature debut. However, although topic deserves filmic treatment, "Forest" remains little more than adequate, with a strong preaching-to-converted feel. Pic will competently fill slots at Jewish film fests and upmarket TV skeds, but has limited theatrical prospects.
Polish Ponar resident Kazimierz Sakowicz's war journal, which contains the times and dates of executions, forms the spine of docu. However, not enough is known about Sakowicz to support the entire feature, so Jewish survivors who miraculously escaped and elderly locals -- including some eyewitnesses -- fill in the story. The locals, most Lithuanians, exhibit wide range of reactions, from various shades of denial to indifference to more shamed and traumatized recollections. Tech credits, especially DV lensing, are purposely plain and simple, and project flatly on bigscreen.
Camera (color, DV-to-35mm), Eithan Haris; editor, Pinhasov Ben Yosef; music, Mystaria Sound Group. Reviewed at Berlin Film Festival (Forum), Feb. 9, 2004. (Also in Jerusalem Film Festival.). Running time: 93 MIN.
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