Defiant Requiem

A Truly Incredible Film
Having seen many Holocaust docs over the years (like so many of us), along comes this INCREDIBLE story that I had never heard about before, and it is told quite beautifully here. "Defiant Requiem" is an amazing story of the Nazi concentration camp at Terezin, wherein many talented Czech artists were imprisoned - and it specifically tells the story of one Czech composer, Raphael Schächter, who's idea it was to lead a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" inside the camp. And it tells the parallel story of music conductor Murry Sidlin who decades later went back to Terezin specifically to perform "Requiem" again, quite beautifully, this time with survivors from the camp. I don't really have the words - let me just say this story was completely new to me and had a profound impact on me, particularly the incredible interviews with the survivors.

It's such a profound experience to be educated on something completely new relating to the Holocaust, and for the subject matter to be...

Not to be missed.
I saw it on TV. Let me say, this is NOT for faint hearts. As well, unless you're some sort of unfeeling clod, you'll need handkerchiefs.

Here's the thing: JEWS are singing - and gloriously - Verdi's Requiem, Requiem, Requiem. OMG. I've started to weep again, for their faith, their humanity amongst the hideous tortures and killing of CHRISTIANS who just KNOW that Jews killed Jesus instead of the Romans. Good God!

Will I ever watch it again? I've recorded it. Maybe. Maybe not. But I hope that as many people who have the stomach for raw suffering will stay the course and celebrate the courage of those people who were offered few choices.



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