FALLING IN LOVE AT WARTIME – BROADCAST ON FRANCE5

Documentary – 52 minutes – Directed by Audrey Gordon
On LA CASE DU SIECLE, on FRANCE 5, September 26, 2021 at 10.40 pm and October 3, 2021 at 5.30 pm
Coproduction France/Italia – Nilaya productions/ Zenit Arti Audiovisive

From June 1940 to September 1943, the Italian army occupied several departments of France. Several thousands of Central European Jews had taken refuge in the Alps, feeling safe from the Germans and Vichy. In the mountains, people suddenly were speaking French, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Yiddish… It was summer of unexpected exchange, an unimaginable haven of peace built amid a suffering Europe… Until September 8th, 1943 when the armistice is signed with Italy. With the Germans arriving and Italian soldiers fleeing, the Jews found themselves surrounded by danger. Most were arrested and deported to Auschwitz, a few managed to hide. This story is told through the accounts of thos who lived it: the Russian Jew Rima Dridso Levinand an Italian Catholic officer, Federico Strobino. They made it into a love story…

 

Selection PRIX EUROPA 2021 (Potsdam) / Selection BIOGRAFILM 2021 (Bologna) / BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY AWARD OF LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE L’HISTOIRE 2021 (Blois)