Written, filmed, photographed, researched, narrated, edited and produced by Rose Collis
In the aftermath of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023, I noticed that two things started to happen. First, incidents of anti-Semitic attacks and abuse in the UK rose by 105% in the first half of 2024 — the highest ever reported total. Second, some of my Jewish friends began to send me private messages, thanking me for using my Facebook page to do what all decent non-Jews should do — namely, to stand with them, and to speak out against the atrocities and all incidents of anti-Semitism.
I soon realised that, in my capacity as a writer and film-maker, some sort of greater response was both required and inevitable. And I also realised it wasn’t enough to respond merely by sitting in my office, relying on what I thought I knew about the history of anti-Semitism to create an artistic response.
This feature-length documentary (102 minutes) — made on just £1,000 of crowd-funding — released to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, is the result.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Great work Rose. A hard watch but really informative as well as emotional. Thank you.
This is such a well researched and important film.
A work of subtlety and great depth. A cris de coeur. Congratulations for saying so clearly what so many of us believe and advocate, but spoken in measured terms. That gentle clarity makes it all the more resonant.
I thought I knew a fair bit about the Holocaust but I knew nothing very much. Thank you for the details even though they were hard to hear. Your narration tone was spot on.
The documentary is wonderful. The devil is in the detail
You’ve surpassed yourself. I rarely feel so moved by film but you do it every time. Thank you for making this so very relevant film in these awful anti semitic times, I find it difficult to find the words to describe how sensitively you’ve made this.
Wow – how totally compelling, tragically yet hugely informative, and such a stark reminder of how pervasive antisemitism was, is, and how easily it can be perpetuated in the future. It’s still a harrowing watch, and I applaud your tenacity in creating such a comprehensive and vital work. I may have to watch it again to assimilate the unfolding. Brava Rose!
I have just finished watching your film. It has, quite rightfully, wiped me out emotionally, however, in my humble opinion, you have produced an incredibly important work, much needed at this time.
Wow. I just watched it in full and I’m sitting at my desk crying. Powerful, informative and so moving. I feel those same pull of emotions that flooded over me as we both stood together in those places of hate and genocide. Have lessons been learned? I think we both know the answer to that, unfortunately. Thank you for taking your time (and money) and to take the emotional journey to make this film. Thank you for standing up to what is right and for those who may not be able to have a voice of their own anymore.
Shattering. These horrors have been constantly revisited in my lifetime, in account, recreation and documentary; but this is an outstanding film. Its net is cast wide, but illustrates the huge swathe of events by zooming in on the particular and the personal at key points. A very necessary lesson, in the current climate, and beautifully done.
I am overwhelmed with your film. For all kinds of reasons. What a woman you are and what a thing you have done. Thank you thank you thank you, you are a righteous among the nations x
I found it so very moving and really wanted to thank you so much for putting in all that effort to make it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Antisemitism remains a huge problem-how the so-called feminist community ignored the dreadful events of 7th October when all those women were attacked, abused, raped, murdered and captured just shows how big the problem is.
Very moving. Very chilling. Watching it on Holocaust Memorial Day made it doubly poignant. We must never forget. We must never let the world forget.
I learnt so much more through watching this, Rose. The statistics are staggering and heartbreaking still. Thank you.
I’ve just watched your amazing film. It’s deeply deeply moving. I can’t think of any other documentary that has affected me as much, and I’ve watched a lot.
Thank you so much Rose for making this wonderful, deeply moving and most important film. Your dedication to research shines through.
That we can be living again with a seemingly worldwide upsurge in antisemitism is a horrifying stain on humanity.
What you did by encapsulating the whole of European Jewish history, was allow those willing to watch a glimpse into the broader reality of human existence. And you did it without retraumatizing with the worst images, but instead by describing much of it. I am so grateful to you for so deeply wanting to know, and for having the talent, skill and storytelling ability, to bring it all to light.