I was incredibly moved by Catherine Lurie's "Back to Berlin". It offers a fascinating view of history, through the lens of personal accounts of the Holocaust, passed down from generation to generation; carrying on a sacred tradition through motorcycle riding. Unspeakable acts of evil perpetrated by not just the Nazis but also the fascists allied with them, that plays out during scenes along their travels, such as Bucharest, Romania. There's a conversation where Marco, one of the riders, says he's not sure if he wants to feel what they (his family) felt because the sadness is too powerful.
On their way through Hungary and Serbia, we see modern-day strife play out between refugees and police along the border, as the team passes by breathtaking scenic views. The 1935 bikers rode the same year as the Nuremberg Laws were put into effect, displaying a stunning amount of courage and bravery in a threat-filled landscape. Today's riders want to continue that legacy and they do so triumphantly. The first hand accounts from survivors were especially powerful.
One line in particular that really stuck with me was "When you hear one person tell their story, they tell it for all the other people who can't tell their story".
The end of the film, when the team finally reaches Berlin, the site of the 1936 Olympics, to light a torch in honor of their ancestors was deeply cathartic.
Stirring music and the velvety narration of Jason Issacs also helps carry this deeply powerful film. Essential viewing for all us to remember.
On their way through Hungary and Serbia, we see modern-day strife play out between refugees and police along the border, as the team passes by breathtaking scenic views. The 1935 bikers rode the same year as the Nuremberg Laws were put into effect, displaying a stunning amount of courage and bravery in a threat-filled landscape. Today's riders want to continue that legacy and they do so triumphantly. The first hand accounts from survivors were especially powerful.
One line in particular that really stuck with me was "When you hear one person tell their story, they tell it for all the other people who can't tell their story".
The end of the film, when the team finally reaches Berlin, the site of the 1936 Olympics, to light a torch in honor of their ancestors was deeply cathartic.
Stirring music and the velvety narration of Jason Issacs also helps carry this deeply powerful film. Essential viewing for all us to remember.