The early days of Israel as a sovereign nation are dramatized in this powerful film evoking the traumatic first steps of the Jewish people in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The story is told from the point of view of Anna (the radiantly beautiful and soulful Ania Bukstein), a young girl who tries to make a fresh life for herself and her brother in the “new land” after losing everything—her family, home, and friends—in the Holocaust. Life in the refugee camp is not easy for the siblings, but Anna's dreams sustain her during the difficult days that follow. Director Orna Ben-Dor Niv rates kudos for sensitive but surefooted handling of touching material that also manages to be thoroughly entertaining, notwithstanding the complexity and harshness of the story. Rich in character and incident, 1994's Newland—a prizewinner at several film festivals—is a marvelous, deeply affecting film that is likely to leave an indelible impression on those who see it. Highly recommended. (E. Hulse)
Newland
SISU, 107 min., in Hebrew & Polish w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95, Nov. 15 Volume 21, Issue 6
Newland
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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