94-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Condemns Jonathan Glazer in Powerful Letter
Inflammatory Remarks by Film Director Jonathan Glazer Condemned by Holocaust Survivor
Following the controversial comments made by film director Jonathan Glazer during the Oscars, a powerful response has emerged from 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, David Schaecter. In an open letter, Schaecter passionately denounces Glazer’s statements.
Glazer, who won an Oscar for his film “Zone of Interest,” which focuses on the family of Rudolf Hess at Auschwitz, faced criticism for the absence of Holocaust victims in the movie. The entire narrative revolves around the Hess family’s life at the concentration camp, without acknowledging the suffering endured by the victims.
During his Oscars speech, Glazer expressed:
“Thank you to the Academy for this honor and to our partners A24, Film4, Access, and Polish Film Institute; to the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum for their trust and guidance; to my producers, actors, and collaborators. All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present — not to say, ‘Look what they did then,’ rather, ‘Look what we do now.’ Our film shows where dehumanization leads, at its worst. It shaped all of our past and present. Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October the 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization, how do we resist? Aleksandra Bystroń-Kołodziejczyk, the girl who glows in the film, as she did in life, chose to. I dedicate this to her memory and her resistance. Thank you.”
In response, the Holocaust survivor’s letter stated:
“I am 94 years old and the sole survivor of my family of 105 during the Holocaust. I miraculously endured nearly three years in the hell of Auschwitz and one year in the hell of Buchenwald. I watched in anguish on Sunday night as you used the Oscars platform to equate Hamas’s brutal actions against innocent Israelis with Israel’s difficult but necessary self-defense in the face of ongoing barbarity.”
“Your comments were not only factually inaccurate but also morally indefensible.”
“The ‘occupation’ you speak of has no connection to the Holocaust. The Jewish people’s right to live in the land of Israel predates the Holocaust by centuries. The current political and geographic situation is a result of past Arab leaders’ refusal to accept Jewish people as neighbors in our historic homeland. Now, as several Arab countries embrace peace with Israel for the betterment of all, Iran and its terrorist proxies initiate another war, supported by those who, through naiveté or malice, blame ‘the occupation.'”
“What is even more disgraceful is your use of the Holocaust to validate your personal opinion. You made a Holocaust movie and won an Oscar. And yes, you are Jewish. Congratulations. However, it is shameful for you to presume to speak for the six million Jews, including one and a half million children, who were murdered solely because of their Jewish identity.”
“It is also disgraceful for you to presume to speak for those of us who witnessed the world’s silence as our loved ones were mercilessly killed. We had nowhere to go, no refuge. No country would accept us, despite world leaders being fully aware of the daily slaughter of thousands of Jews. There was no Jewish nation to which we could flee.”
“You should be ashamed of yourself for using Auschwitz to criticize Israel.”
Read every word. pic.twitter.com/7qzpsM8oq4
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) March 12, 2024
In what ways does the film ’Zone of Interest’ ignore the experiences and pain endured by Holocaust victims?
E=”font-weight: 400″>“You desecrated the memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust by equating their suffering with the actions of a terrorist organization. You betrayed the truth and insulted the memory of those who were brutally murdered in the gas chambers and ovens of Auschwitz.”
“Your film, ‘Zone of Interest,’ completely ignores the experiences and pain endured by the victims of the Holocaust. It is a mockery and a disservice to their memory. By focusing solely on the lives of the perpetrators, you perpetuate the erasure of the victims’ voices and stories.”
“As a survivor, it is my duty to ensure that the world never forgets the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. It is my duty to honor the memory of my family and the millions of others who were senselessly killed. Your inflammatory remarks only serve to distort the truth and undermine the importance of remembrance.”
The letter has received widespread attention, with many individuals and organizations voicing support for Schaecter and condemning Glazer’s statements. Holocaust awareness groups have called for a reevaluation of Glazer’s film and have emphasized the need for accurate and respectful portrayals of the Holocaust in media.
Glazer has yet to respond to the backlash and the controversy surrounding his remarks. Time will tell if he will address the concerns raised by Holocaust survivors and their advocates.
Regardless of Glazer’s response, Schaecter’s letter serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering and honoring the victims of the Holocaust. It is essential for filmmakers and artists to approach subjects as sensitive as the Holocaust with the utmost respect and sensitivity.
The controversy sparked by Glazer’s film and his Oscars speech highlights the ongoing need for education and awareness regarding the Holocaust and its atrocities. It is through honest and responsible storytelling that we can ensure the memory of the Holocaust remains alive and the lessons it teaches us are never forgotten.
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