Lives to Save: The Rescuers

Schindler's List proved that audiences will support a serious Holocaust drama. Regrettably, this sincere, well intentioned but disappointing video is no Schindler. The tape is introduced by Isaac Dostis, who describes the drama to follow as a tribute to a Greek doctor who helped shield Greek Jews from Nazi troops, including some in Dostis' family. In dramatized two person vignettes (all acted by Dostis and Diana Sunrise), "Lives" intends to honor the righteous of all nations who summoned the courage to save Jews. Brief scenes highlight figures such as Corrie Ten Boom, Raoul Wallenberg and Anne Frank (reading parts of her diary in which she describes ordinary kindnesses shown to the Frank family by some Dutch citizens). This video would have been more powerful had some vignettes been eliminated, others expanded, and more actors recruited to fill some of the many roles (it's rather embarrassing to see the bearded middle aged Dostis attempting to impersonate a 10 year old boy). I respect this video for the devotion it shows its subject, but I can't recommend it. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)