One Survivor Remembers Discussion Questions

                One Survivor Remembers is a touching short movie about a Holocaust survivor’s memory of the dreaded ordeal. The movie depicts her life during the Holocaust and her continuous courage to get through those years.

                One Survivor Remembers has many powerful scenes. One that I thought was the most powerful was when a young Holocaust victim named Gerda wanted to jump off the train at the factory to kill herself.  Gerda had a very strong relationship with her father. Her father always seemed to know what was on her mind. Before her father left her and her mother, he told her that she should never commit suicide. He asked her to promise to never do so. She didn’t reply. Then, her father grabbed her neck and turned her face to face his. He repeated his request again. She promised she wouldn’t. Before she was about to jump off the train, her neck started hurting. I think this is powerful because it shows how influential a promise is. Another powerful scene was when she was separated from her mother. This scene was significant because she didn’t know what was going on, nor did she know what was happening to her or her mother. As she and other younger girls were loaded onto the truck, her mother yelled “Be Strong!” to her. That was an important scene because her mother showed how much she cared about her, and she wanted her to survive, even if she didn’t.

                Nazi’s dehumanized Jewish people in many different ways. Some ways included starving them, forcing them to work, shaving their heads, and calling them by a number instead of a name. Gerda Weissmann overcame dehumanization by having hope. Whenever her friends said anything negative, she would always insist that they would survive. When they were on the truck heading towards that factory, she met a girl that said that the war would be over in a few years. Gerda insisted that it would be over in six months. Even though she was wrong, she still kept hope. Although it didn’t seem likely, staying hopeful helped her survive as well. She kept thinking that she will survive by imagining a wonderful home life which kept her mind off what was happening to her.

                Gerda often fantasized about different things to keep her mind off of the problem at hand. If I were in the same situation, I would fantasize about my room. I would think about how I might design it to look differently, or how I might rearrange it. I would fantasize about that because I normally take my room for granted. I have a beautifully decorated room, and sometimes I don’t show appreciation of it like I should.  Another scene that I would fantasize is that I am dancing on a large illuminated stage. I would be wearing a beautiful flowing dress and every seat in the audience would be full.

                Just like how Jewish people, Gypsies, gays and lesbians, and Communists were targeted in the Holocaust, Muslims and gays are being targeted today. Ever since September 11, 2001, Muslim people have been portrayed as violent people who cannot be trusted. There has been an uncomfortable feeling since then when you go on an airplane and you see people who may look Muslim on board. Gay people are still being targeted by many people too. They are called rude humiliating names just because they’re different. Although they might not be persecuted in large numbers, they are still targeted individually in remote areas in this country.  

                Gerda portrays hope for her future in this film. People who have helped her stay positive and hopeful include the person in charge of the factory, and Kurt Klein. At first, Gerda thought that the person in charge of the factory would be cruel and treat them how they had been treated previously. She then learned that she wasn’t that bad of a person, and it helped her think that not all non- Jewish people were unkind. Kurt Klein also helped her stay hopeful towards the end. He was the one that came and saved her friends and her from the abandoned factory. He was also Jewish. He was sent to America by his parents so he would remain safe. The whole idea of thinking of others and helping each other be safe and content are factors that I like to pursue in my routine. I like to try and make my neighbors live a little better life when I organize food donations for Jesus Focus Food Pantry, and when I make holiday meals and breakfast bags for Aid for Friends, and finally when I make casseroles for St. John’s Hospice.  I know this world is far from being a utopian society but if each of us can just volunteer two hours a week to do something for someone else in need,  that may be the first step.