Let Memory Speak

A staggering one and a half million children are thought to have been murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust--perhaps the most tragic statistic of the 20th century. Child survivor and educator Batia Bettman's Let Memory Speak brings this loss chillingly to life through the innocence of children's drawings, school papers, poems, and photos, reminding us of the untold millions of forgotten, uncelebrated Anne Franks in the world whose only "crime" was to be born Jewish. The combination of heartbreaking historical artifacts and personal testimonies effectively set the tone for the March of the Living, a cathartic final sequence in which former child prisoners walk back to their places of internment with their families in the footsteps of those who did not survive. While the filmmaking, editing and sound are not top-notch, the subject matter is so important that it overwhelms a few technical quibbles. A powerful statement on memory and legacy, this is recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Ray)