A Film Unfinished

Ashley Speer

Mr. Neuburger

Eng. Comp. 102

7 March 2012

Film Summary

“A Film Unfinished”

The video, “A Film Unfinished” portrays the life of Jews during the Holocaust.  After the Holocaust had ended, multiple films were found containing video on life in the ghettos.  The films were used to show how life was comfortable for most Jews.  All video taken from inside the ghetto was staged though.  Individuals were ordered to act a certain way and say certain things while being filmed and if they did not follow orders they would be either beaten or killed.  The films titled “The Ghetto” were unedited however which revealed some of the misery the Jews experienced.  

In the ghettos, Jews of all statuses were forced into the same area.  The people were only allowed to take whatever they could carry with them and nothing else.  This made it difficult for people to survive.  The wealthier people continued living a life of luxury in nice apartments with adequate necessities while the poor gradually became less fortunate and homeless.

Quality food like duck or geese were brought into the ghetto by the German soldiers to give the appearance that the Jews were living a comfortable and satisfying life.  The cost of the food was unaffordable for most of the individuals though unless the family was wealthy.  This made it unlivable for the poor people.  Most people sold all they had to survive the extreme measures which left them homeless and without food or water.  Survival among the poor was scarce.  Towards the ending of the ghettos the rich and poor people were easily distinguished.  The poor were starving and ill while the rich were still able to afford food and eat.  As a result, many people died and were left on the street by their families.  Corpses were found laid out on the sidewalk because families could not afford to bury their loved ones.  The corpses were picked up by the German soldiers and buried in a massive grave.

The ghetto was a miserable life for the Jews because most were aware of their cruel destiny.  Unable to fix anything about their outcome was terrifying.  Some people lived after the liquidation of the ghettos, but most died a tragic death after being sent to the concentration camps.

Word Count: 384