In case we haven't noticed by now, I have a great interest in learning anything that I can about World War II, particularly the Holocaust. I love war movies in general, especially World War II and the Vietnam War. I think that in these types of films, be they fiction or non fiction, have an inherant emotional connection between the subject/protagonist and the audience member. Those of us watching already know the background and already can sympathize with the main character(s) of the movie. I'm positive film makers are aware of this connection, make a movie about it, and then often get lazy. (Don't even get me started on Valkyrie) I think that's what happened in Steal a Pencil For Me.
The film is about two Holocaust survivors, Jaap and Ina, who fell in love prior to their deportation to Nazi concentration camps. Amazingly they were twice moved to the same camp. The story goes on to tell us why it was so hard for them to be together (Jaap was already married and Ina was much younger than him) While Jaap and his wife had already decided to divorce at the end of the war, for obvious reasons the relationship was seen as taboo among family and friends. They kept it a secret as much as possible and wrote love letters to each other during their time at the camp. Once they were liberated in 1945, they got married as soon as Jaap's divorce was finalized and lived happily ever after. Weaved in throughout are small inclanations and mentions that they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at the end of the film.
Like the last post, the director (Michèle Ohayon) should have structured the film differently so that we as audience members were in some sort of suspense, wanting to learn how everything turned out. Did they end up together after all that turmoil? Did Ina's family recognize their relationship despite Jaap's marriage? In my opinion, we shouldn't have been let in on the secret that they were able to marry and live happily ever after until the end of the movie. That would have given the story some arc, instead it flat-lined. Yes, we are working up to their 60th wedding anniversary during the whole piece, but we know it's going to go off without a hitch and be just lovely. We needed a problem and a solution, but were left unsatisfied.
That's really all I've got for this post...See the film if you'd like to, but you'll probably be bored. It's such a shame too, because it really had the potential to be a great, heart-wrenching documentary.
The film is about two Holocaust survivors, Jaap and Ina, who fell in love prior to their deportation to Nazi concentration camps. Amazingly they were twice moved to the same camp. The story goes on to tell us why it was so hard for them to be together (Jaap was already married and Ina was much younger than him) While Jaap and his wife had already decided to divorce at the end of the war, for obvious reasons the relationship was seen as taboo among family and friends. They kept it a secret as much as possible and wrote love letters to each other during their time at the camp. Once they were liberated in 1945, they got married as soon as Jaap's divorce was finalized and lived happily ever after. Weaved in throughout are small inclanations and mentions that they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at the end of the film. 
Like the last post, the director (Michèle Ohayon) should have structured the film differently so that we as audience members were in some sort of suspense, wanting to learn how everything turned out. Did they end up together after all that turmoil? Did Ina's family recognize their relationship despite Jaap's marriage? In my opinion, we shouldn't have been let in on the secret that they were able to marry and live happily ever after until the end of the movie. That would have given the story some arc, instead it flat-lined. Yes, we are working up to their 60th wedding anniversary during the whole piece, but we know it's going to go off without a hitch and be just lovely. We needed a problem and a solution, but were left unsatisfied.
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