Resurrection
About the Director
Garry Crystal is a British award-winning emerging writer and director whose work is a blend of dark comedy and melancholy. He is fascinated by themes of parenthood, childhood, grief, betrayal and trauma. His short films have been selected for and won awards at numerous Academy Award and BAFTA qualifying international film festivals. He has had the pleasure of working with British talent including Alison Steadman, Amanda Donohoe, Arthur Darvill, and Russell T Davies. Garry is also an established award-winning editor who has edited a wide range of documentaries, including films about D-Day, Ed Sheeran, and Banksy. Additionally, he used to be a TV actor and played leading roles in UK dramas series. He is the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, recently granted German citizenship owing to his grandmother’s plight.
Synopsis
On September 26th 1941, in Eisikes, Lithuania, 4500 men, women and children were murdered in mass executions. Zvi Michaelowski, a 16 year old boy, miraculously survives the firing squad and emerges from the mass grave. He seeks refuge in the home of an elderly woman, a devout Catholic, and convinces her that he is Jesus. He promises her that if she clothes, feeds and hides him, he will bless her and her family for eternity.
Director’s Statement
After reading about Zvi “Yashke” Michalowski in Sir Martin Gilbert’s book “The Holocaust,” I was inspired to create a short film based on his remarkable story. Recognizing the importance of having his family’s blessing, I managed to track down his daughter, who was overwhelmed and happy with my plans. The timing was serendipitous, coinciding with a trip that I made to Auschwitz, which deepened my commitment to Shoah remembrance.
As the grandson of a survivor and having studied the Holocaust in cinema whilst at university, I feel a profound responsibility to continue educating future generations. “Resurrection” will shed light on the lesser-known atrocities committed by the Einsatzgruppen and the Lithuanian Police in Lithuania. In an era of rising intolerance and fascism, this film serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of indifference and the enduring importance of forgiveness, especially in the context of current global conflicts.