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"Telling Jokes In Auschwitz"

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This inspiring story about finding laughter in the last place you would think. In 1944, Werner Reich was a teenager in the Nazi death camp known as Auschwitz-Birkenau, when the infamous Josef Mengele, "The Angel of Death", randomly "selected" 96 boys out of 5,000, saving them from the gas chamber. Werner was one of the surviving "Birkenau Boys". spared, it seems, because of a bad joke. Thank you to my friend Mikal Reich for introducing me to his courageous father, who will do anything for a laugh. Today, Werner is a magician (which he learned in Auschwitz) and speaks to school children in hopes the Holocaust will never happen again.
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26 responses // "Telling Jokes In Auschwitz"

  • The beginning needs more of an introduction, but I like this pod. Greenlight.
    Redbone
  • Beautifully shot and a wonderful idea. The subject matter is potent and the way you put it together is very true to form. Greenlight all the way on this one.
    Shrieve
  • very cool. great to have a record of this sort of thing.
    peteco
  • I want to see and hear more. Powerful.
    Jon1348
  • Sent a chill down my spine. and it's not even cold in here.
    Greenlight.
    meekoveep
  • It's so important that people take the time to record stories like these. What an amazing perspective on the fate of people in the camps and how you live your life after something like that.
    sachadunn
  • We can never forget what happened during the Holocaust. We must hear these stories before the last survivors are gone.
    flubbis
  • This is a great example of how personal narratives can be used to connect all of us to crucial periods of history that might otherwise seem academic or stripped of humanity.
    carlty
  • Great piece. A wonderful reminder that life is for living. Thank you.
    ksaxon
  • A fascinating and thought-provoking story.
    A powerful reminder to be grateful for every day of your life. And to stop complaining about lame things.

    Brilliant.
    ellawilson
  • If only more people thought like Werner the world would be a better place.
    susie
  • What a wonderful/horrible story, and the video very nicely done. Makes me want to hang out with this man and hear more stories. But you need to put some attention towards your sound mix--uneven and pretty noisy. Good luck!
    Reba
  • This is a very poignant and sensitively crafted little composition. The film makers are to be congratulated.
    dunnproject
  • thats an interesting and compelling story, good job. GL!
    MarshallsMedia
  • thanks for conveying a story I've never heard before!
    semmiecircle
  • Great story. I just think a tripod would have helped tremendously. The handheld style doesn't seem appropriate here. I like how you bring in some photos.... but they are really really quick. I don't even get a moment to digest them. Use more and keep them on for longer.

    But really, fantastic subject.
    Springer
  • A great many lessons to be learned from this amazing man and his story. Thank you for telling it. I agree with the tripod comment.
    jackson
  • completely disagree with the comments about using a tripod. you had really good handheld shots with the perfect feel for this. i think the shots were intimate, immediate and framed well, a tripod would have been really bland.
    regardless, content is king and what an absolutely amazing twist on a survivor's story
    good job, hope you guys air
    VideoPimps
  • Powerful piece. Good camera work. This subject always needs telling. Thank you. - Rich T
    RichT58
  • This is such a great and important perspective on life. I would love to see and hear more.
    Redseapedestrian
  • Great pod. Oral history is invaluable. Green.
    shivu
  • Very moving. Werner is an example to us all. Anyonewho doesn't yet understand what we are facing now with the Jihad on America and Israel, needs to listen to the underlying dark side of his message. And *everyone* needs to let Werner's brand of optimism into their lives. Green Light, Go!
    gregb27
  • The Holocaust survivor I interviewed said that his sense of humor saved him too and helped him keep going. Nice job.

    I'd love to get our opinion on our new video "Navajo Weaving" link
    dbocaz
  • inspiring. GL!
    AllenCKM
  • Like everything else I've watched that you've done, this tells a powerful personal story.

    "I'm not alive in order to mourn" damn, I can't even begin tin imagine it. Great interview.

    GL again.
    kDrew_Productions
  • very important work even though we personally had the sad privilege to hear too many of those stories.
    taad

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