HIDDEN IN SILENCE

REVIEWED BY ANNA T.

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: implications of violence

Rated:

Fucia (Kellie Martin) is 17, fun loving, kind, sweet and beautiful. She loves her life with the Diamant’s, working in their candy shop, having boys to flirt with, and the hustle and bustle of city life compared to her slow, “boring” farm life. Giddy she declares to her girlfriend on the streets of Poland that she wants to buy a beautiful red dress for waltzing and one day a line of boys will be waiting to dance with her. Minutes later her world is turned upside down when the Germans bomb Poland and everything she knows and loves begins to crumble. The Jewish family she is staying with are soon summoned to the Ghetto. One of their sons, Isaac, is in love with Fucia and they are betrothed, but are soon ripped apart crying by the cruel hands of German officers as he is shoved into the ghetto.

Alone, with the Jewish family’s apartment now in her ownership she makes regular trips to the Ghetto, bringing food to the starving people, in exchange for their jewels to sell for more. The trips become more treacherous, as the Germans are not as lenient to those who “do business.”  Months later Isaac is sent to a camp to work, his brother Max pleads with Fucia to get him out of there. Instead of jewels he hands her a bundle of Isaac’s clothes. Stark cold gates display an ominous welcome when she goes to the nearby camp. After pleading, and bribing the guard, Isaac is permitted to come speak with Fucia. Their reunion is tearful, and Fucia tells him he must run into the woods before entering the camp after a day working. She will be waiting. He agrees, begging for her to take him out of there. The officer sends her away, and a day later she waits in the woods as the workers pass by. Several are pulling a wagon, as the contents come into view Fucia swallows her sobs as she sees Isaac’s bloodied body dead in the wagon.

She makes her way to her parent’s farm nearby, and is shattered to find it deserted. While washing her face by the pump, removing all traces of her tears, a small voice is heard behind her. Whirling around, her little sister Elena is standing there. They embrace and Fucia finds out her family has been taken to work in factories in Germany but Elena was hidden at a neighbor's house. Happily she takes Elena home with her. Fucia’s trips to the ghetto continu, always bringing food and supplies in exchange for jewels to buy more. Nine months later, after all the weak, old and young had been taken from the ghetto by the trains to camps, only Max, his brother Henrick and his wife remain of those Fucia cares for in the place of pain. All those who remain in the ghetto are strong and able workers. Max is eventually taken on the trains with another shipment of Jews to the concentration camps. 

Home with her sister, she warily opens the door after frantic knocking. Max about falls into her arms. His face and body are badly wounded and bloodied. He had jumped from the train. A brief explanation follows, Max on the verge of tears. Their lives teeter precariously when Max’s brother, wife, and best friend come and hide in Fucia’s apartment. Soon she must find a new place to live, with an attic. Dismayed she finds out more Jews in the ghetto have found out about her mercy and willingness to hide them. Time is running out. She has become a suspect by the Gestopo, and her friends are becoming suspicious. Will Fucia be able to protect these Jews entrusted by God to her care? Or will their lives be added to the millions already dead at Hitler’s command?

For a holocaust film the content is generally mild. Some blood is seen on wounds. Max’s face especially is battered after jumping from the train. A few people are shot where they are standing. You almost never see the impact, and there is no blood. A boy is shot as an example. During the liquidation of the Ghetto, you hear the screams, and shooting, but only see the horrified faces of the Jews hiding in Fucia’s attic. There are two mild abuse of deity, and one d*mn. A friend of Fucia’s comes to her house and tells her he wants "be" with her. She refuses.  Fucia’s simple Catholic faith contrasts with the Jew’s Judaism. At one point Fucia prays for a miracle in front of pictures of Jesus and Mary. All the Jews in hiding kneel beside her and pray in their own tongue. Before being separated the father blesses each of his children and Fucia in a very touching scene. What I liked most about this film was seeing Fucia grow from a somewhat silly girl to a courageous, mature woman willing to sacrifice her life for her friends and those she does not know. She could have decided to forgo the worry and fear of hiding Jews, but she didn’t. 

Only one thing with the film itself I found somewhat bothersome: everyone’s proper accents are missing or at best touch and go. But the lack of Polish and German accents shouldn’t stop you from enjoying this film. Based on a true story, it is especially inspiring, and before the credits roll what happens to each and every Jew Fucia hid is told. I laughed and I cried. I liked Hidden in Silence, a worthy, pretty family-safe Holocaust movie.