UnBroken

Beth Lane’s UnBroken is a profound dissertation on Jewish heritage and history, presenting a documentary so remarkable that — although undeniably specific — it is a universal reminder to each and every one of us on what it means to be human and the journeys we all take in life.

Detailing the extraordinary true story of seven siblings who survived The Holocaust through a series of disconnected miracles,  UnBroken touches on tragedy with a level of warmth seldom seen in similar media pieces. More importantly, it imbues each of its many vignettes with context — leaning into life’s dramatic absurdity and the silent comedy therein.

The Weber Siblings, six sisters and a brother, Alfons, Senta, Ruth, Gertrude, Renee, Judith, and Ginger, lived in Berlin at the start of WWII. As the Nazi regime became more brazen, their Jewish community in Germany began to deteriorate, with their Mother helping Jews survive.

Ginger Lane, the youngest of the siblings, happens to be Beth Lane’s mother. Because of their relationship, Beth has direct access to this story through her aunts and extended family.

Found out by the regime, the Webber’s Mother was taken from them and died in Auschwitz. Their father, however, was a converted Catholic and quickly sheltered his children on a farm outside of the city — baptizing them in an effort to cover tracks.

“The extraordinary true story of seven siblings who survived The Holocaust through a series of disconnected miracles…”

A winding tale of heroism, war, hope, peace, and redemption ensues, cut up against a nomadic lifestyle that wouldn’t stop until the Webbers found themselves in Chicago years later. Made up of journal entries, old photos, archival footage, interviews from the surviving Weber siblings, animated vignettes, and all accompanied by music — UnBroken is one of the most well-done, tasteful films I’ve seen in quite some time, and was a true joy to watch.

Many stories from The Holocaust see families broken, destroyed, or left behind, making the fact that the Webers stuck together through the ordeal wholly captivity. The siblings, some of whom are still living, were/are the beating heart of this project, with their beautiful introspection on the struggles of their own lives as a backdrop that refuses to be ignored.

Watching them recount tragedy, smiling through tears, and continuing to laugh will rattle any audience — and provide a rich, inarguable context. Ugly and beautiful, Lane, an actress and filmmaker herself, taps into these prevailing sentiments. Throughout the story, she presents a slew of questions alongside her family’s tale: examinations of our present-day socio-political landscape, whether or not folks would shelter the prosecuted if need be, and how many lives were created as a result of others being saved in the past.

By the time the credits started rolling, all I could think to myself was what a triumph the entire affair had become and how much I wished I could have a chance to meet these wonderful people. UnBroken isn’t just a film about humanity’s resilience; it’s about drawing attention to the types of people we can all become—the people we wish we were.

As much as it’s been said, and as cliche as it may sound, if we do not remember history, we are bound to repeat it. For that reason alone—politics, caste, color, and creed aside—this film should be given every possible chance. Full stop.