Hegedus-Peter-ITN-Ethel-Sydney.png (5.96 MB)
In Their Name
Filmmaker Peter Hegedus embarks on the challenging journey to make Sorella's Story, an immersive 360° film set on the beaches of Latvia in December 1941, when thousands of Jewish Women and children perished at the hands of Nazi collaborators. Along the way Peter teams up with Jewish-Australian 90-year-old Ethel Davies whose family was also killed in the same massacre.
Watch the trailer on Vimeo.
Funding
ABC Acquisition, Screen Australia PEP Program, Screen Queensland
History
ERA Category
- Recorded/Rendered Creative Work - Film/Video
Funding type
- Public funds
Eligible major research output?
- Yes
Research Statement
Background In Their Name is a 26 minute documentary in the tradition of Holocaust testimony such as Resnais’ Night and Fog (1956) and Claude Lanzmann's Shoah (1985). Inspiration was drawn from the Academy Award winning Colette (2021) featuring an encounter between the French Resistance and a young history student. Filmmaker Peter Hegedus and 92-year-old Jewish Australian Ethel Davis uncover the story behind an atrocity photograph from 1941 depicting a group of women and a 10-year-old girl named Sorella before their execution. They were among 3640 Latvian Jewish women and children massacred by Nazi troops and collaborators. Peter Hegedus creates a 360 immersive experience from the photograph with the help of Ethel whose family perished in the same massacre. Contribution In Their Name investigates innovative ways to retain memories of the Holocaust through personal conversations between generations. Against the backdrop of complex Eastern European Holocaust history and growing extreme right-wing movements, recent studies have confirmed that young generations know little about the Holocaust let alone that the Holocaust took place in many parts of Europe outside of Germany. The objective is for people, especially generation Z, to develop an emotional connection to this tragedy, the Holocaust, and carry holocaust memory to future generations regardless of whether or not they are Jewish. Little is known about the Latvian Holocaust in Australia so this project highlights horrific atrocities through establishing an Australian personal connection to these events, via conversations between generations. Significance The project was broadcast by the ABC as part of its acclaimed ‘Compass’ series and on the ABC’s online platform iView. The film’s current estimated audience is approximately 25,000. Ronin Films selected the documentary for extensive educational distribution. It will accompany the immersive film Sorella’s Story on a tour supported by the Gandel Foundation.Publisher
Australian Broadcasting CorporationPlace of publication
Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaConfidential / Culturally sensitive
- No
Copyright notes
© 2022, the author/s hold copyright in this workLanguage
English/LatvianMedium
Audiovisual material, digitial videoDuration of performance
26 minutesPerformance size
- Group
Authors of work performed
Peter HegedusWas the work disseminated?
- Yes
Form of dissemination
- Public broadcast
Scope of dissemination
- International
Did the work go on tour?
- Yes