Four Seasons Lodge

In his poignant Four Seasons Lodge--inspired by a series of articles he wrote for the New York Times--journalist Andrew Jacobs profiles a group of Holocaust survivors who have been coming to the titular Catskills retreat for 26 summers. Says one lodger, “We survivors, we stick together like glue.” Jacobs began filming in 2006, the year Hymie Abramowitz and Carl Potok announced their intention to sell the cluster of bungalows comprising the Four Seasons Lodge (Carl's wife has Alzheimer's disease, and the maintenance of the facility has become an increasing challenge for both men). During the opening get-together, the guests dress up for an evening at the casino, where they dine and dance while klezmer musicians and vaudeville comedians provide the entertainment. Throughout, the old-timers tell stories—sometimes reluctantly—about their time in the concentration camps, and more enthusiastically about their years at the Four Seasons (Jacobs fills in the chronology with home movies and family photos). Some, like Tobias Buchman and Lola Wenglin, lost their spouses (the two went on to become a couple); others, such as Genia Boyman and Olga Bowman, continue to maintain decades-long friendships. Along with the personal portraits, Jacobs takes a more universal look at aging and the solace that social networks provide. DVD extras include bonus scenes and an interview with the director. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)