FILMS > ORCHESTRA OF EXILES
"I bow my head in deepest respect to one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century, Bronislaw Huberman, who sacrificed both his time and money in bringing forward the creation of a great orchestra." -Zubin Mehta, music director, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra |
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CREDITS
Writer/Director/Producer - Josh Aronson
German Line Producer - Sven Woldt Israel Producer - Julia Schifter Associate Producer - Nina Krstic Cinematography - Amnon Zalait and Nitay Netzler Editor - Nancy Kennedy PRODUCTION PHOTOS
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Orchestra of Exiles is now a book. Bronislaw Huberman
The F. Blumental Music Center and
Library/Huberman Archive
Some stories get lost in the turmoil of their times. It is often only in retrospect that we can discover the true shapers of history. One such man is the prodigious Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman. ORCHESTRA OF EXILES explores this great man’s 4-year odyssey, which culminates in the founding of the orchestra that would become the Israel Philharmonic. His fascinating story touches many of the major themes of the 20th century and the unfolding drama of his life is riveting.
"Illuminates humanity's darkest period from a fresh perspective while delivering the story of an astonishing hero little known in America." - Huffington Post  The Palestine Orchestra
During the darkest days of a Europe being torn apart by anti- Semitism and Nazi aggression, Huberman’s extraordinary efforts saved hundreds of Jewish families from the approaching holocaust and his achievements changed the landscape of cultural history. Before the Nazis came to power Huberman was focused only on building his own monumental career but witnessing Hitler’s agenda was a call to action that Huberman could not ignore. Huberman’s personal transformation and subsequent heroic struggle to get Jewish musicians out of Europe to found this orchestra will be at the heart of this film.
"Richly researched and partly told by some of today's top-flight musicians, 'Orchestra of Exiles' aspires to a level of primary research that other historical documentaries could take a page from." - The New York Times  Bronislaw Huberman with Albert Einstein who was instrumental in raising the funds to start the orchestra.
In the early 1930s Hitler began forcing Jewish musicians out of orchestras across central Europe; never before had so many experienced players been jobless simultaneously. The Nazis unwittingly presented a unique opportunity and with the short window of time still available, Huberman dedicated himself to fulfilling a dream.
The struggle to create the Palestine Symphony is a densely layered story with a range of key characters that could hardly be more diverse. Among them: a high Nazi official, Goebbels; renowned conductors, Furtwangler and Toscanini; a future head of state, Chaim Weizmann; and the families of victimized Jewish musicians who made up the ranks of orchestras across central Europe. Even the most famous Jew in the world played a role; a man who, among other pursuits, was an amateur violinist who liked to read music with Huberman - Albert Einstein. Huberman knew that his orchestra would serve a broader purpose as well - a top flight orchestra of Jewish immigrants would be a powerful tool to fight the savage anti-Semitism spreading out from Germany, and it would build the prestige of Jews. Huberman foresaw that by arranging for these families to emigrate, hundreds of Jews would be saved whose fate would otherwise have been the gas chamber. In all, Huberman saved close to a thousand people. "One of the best documentaries I’ve seen in years, with the dramatic energy of a fictional narrative." - St. Louis Beacon  Bronislaw Huberman
The story of the founding of the Palestine Orchestra is our narrative story, but the film explores some profound psychological questions: How did living through WW I and the Depression change Huberman from a self-absorbed eccentric genius into an altruistic statesman dedicated to egalitarian politics and humanism? How did Nazism and its cultural policies ignite Huberman and inspire him to bring music to Palestine, to save Jews and to fight anti-Semitism?
These are the paths our story tracks: the timeless tale of a brilliant young man coming of age and the suspenseful chronicle of how his efforts impacted cultural history. Perhaps most important, the film challenges us to look inward and ask the hard questions: how would I have reacted and what would I have done in the face of those momentous events in that terrible troubled time? ADDITIONAL REVIEWS
"I defy you to leave with a dry eye." - The Forward
"A great, too-little-known piece of history...marvelous footage!" - Christian Science Monitor
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