Fighter

Description

Product Description Fighter follows two men, Jan Weiner and Arnost Lustig, on a road trip into the past. Both men are survivors of Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia who now live in the US and are respected university professors. At the invitation of filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev they return to Europe with him. What Bar-Lev first envisions as a historical documentary soon becomes the personal story of the battle between two very different men--one the bitter, angry fighter, the other, the wise and cynical philosopher-- who have very different ways of dealing with memories of the Holocaust. As they retrace the steps of Weiner's escape from the Nazis, they regale one another with thrilling exploits, revisiting scenes of romance, humor, of narrow escapes and life-or-death confrontations. But their journey soon becomes a contentious clash of personalities, and ultimately takes their friendship to the brink of collapse. Bar-Lev balances both personalities and interweaves their stories with footage from the Nazi and Communist occupations, allowing all the heartbreak, humor, and the larger questions that the film raises, to unfold naturally.Fighter has been hailed by critics nationwide and has won numerous awards at major film festivals around the world, including the Galway Film Festival (Best Documentary); Hamptons Film Festival (Audience Award); Karlovy Vary (Special Jury Citation); and Newport (Best Documentary). Review Heartbreaking, hilarious! I couldn't recommend it more highly! --LA WeeklyBrilliant and engaging. The film speaks to fundamental issues of history, truth, and the philosophical conflicts of humankind. --Philadelphia InquirerEnthralling! Refreshingly original. --New York Times