Love, It Was Not
אהבה זאת לא היתה | Maya Sarfaty | Israel/Austria, 2020 | Hebrew/German (English subtitles) | Documentary | 86m | DCP | IMDB | Distributor/Sales: Cinephil | Festival marketing sample: DocAviv 2020
Description: Slovakian Helena Zitron was on the first transport of 1,000 women to arrive in Auschwitz. Her elder sister and children had been killed on arrival. She was put to work in the demolition of the site’s old buildings and the construction of the camp’s new structures. One night, ordered to sing at SS camp officer Franz Wunch’s birthday, she caught his eye. He had her transferred to the Kanada Komando which was tasked with sorting the arriving prisoners’ belongings. When she became ill, he took care of her. Soon he fell deeply in love. When another sister, Rose, arrived in Auschwitz with her two young children, Wunch was spurred by Helena to save her too. Alas, this gesture did not extend to Rose’s children. Some of the sisters’ colleagues attest that while Wunch was cruel to male internees, he treated women relatively well. The two sisters survived the death march following the closure of the camp, settled in Israel and formed new families. Helena ignored Wunch’s repeated pleas to re-unite with him. In 1972, Wunch’s wife wrote to Helena asking her to testify on his behalf at his war crimes trial in Vienna.
This film features interviews with many surviving Kanada Komando internees who knew both women. Helena and Rose died over ten years ago, but appear in extended clips from an Israeli television programme. Other interviewees include Helena and Rose’s children, Wunch’s daughter, and a juror and the prosecutor at his trial. Franz Wunch’s and his wife’s letters and diary entries are read by actors. Camera pans of cut out snapshot figures are used to illustrate some of the narrative.
Merits: Sarfaty’s film deftly explores many sensitive areas. The fraught relationship between the two sisters culminated in a rupture following their joint Israeli television interview when Rose berated Helena for not allowing her to die with her children. Helena had a troubled relationship with her own children. (A frequently recounted experience by second generation survivors.) After emigrating to Israel, Helena was reticent about meeting other inmates fearing that they may resent her for her relationship with Wunch. Interestingly, the companions that were interviewed appeared far less judgemental. Her life was threatened if she agreed to testify for Wunch. In stills and the television interview recorded decades after she left the camp, Helena comes across as an elegant, attractive and commanding presence. This film was the winner of the Israeli competition at DocAviv 2020.
Rating: Suitable for all audiences.