United Nations Department of Global Communications to Screen Premiere of ‘Broken Dreams’ at New York Headquarters, 2 May

The Department of Global Communications and the Permanent Mission of Poland to the United Nations will premiere the film Broken Dreams on 2 May, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council Chamber at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

With the screening marking Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, in the Hebrew calendar, the 70-minute-long film is in Polish and English with subtitles.  It is directed by Tomasz Magierski.

Broken Dreams is the compelling story of two Polish Jewish teenage sisters, Renia and Ariana Spiegel, struggling to survive the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Poland.  The film draws on the journal kept by Renia from 1939 until the summer of 1942.  Renia’s journal described her dreams and fears as life under Soviet and German occupation became increasingly brutal.

In 1942, Renia was murdered by the Nazis.  She had just turned 18.  Her younger sister, Ariana, survived.  Her narration intertwines with text from Renia’s diary spoken by Aleksandra Bernatek, a young actor from the sisters’ home town of Przemyśl.  The film presents a powerful insight into a young life cut short before the talent evident in her writing could blossom.

Alison Smale, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, will moderate the programme.  The director, Mr. Magierski, will introduce the film following remarks by Paweł Radomski, Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland.  Following the screening, a discussion will be held with Mr. Magierski and Holocaust survivor Ariana Elżbieta Bellak, Renia Spiegel’s younger sister.

The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme was established by General Assembly resolution 60/7 in 2005 to further education about and remembrance of the Holocaust so as to help prevent future acts of genocide.  Its multifaceted programme includes online and print educational products, seminars, exhibitions, a film series and the annual worldwide observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, on 27 January.  For more information, please visit https://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/.

Media contacts:  Tracey Petersen, tel.:  +1 212 963 4578, email:  petersen3@un.org.

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