Movie Review: Shanghai Ghetto

Story: In 1939, the Evian Conference was held to address altering immigration policies among 31 nations (including the US, Australia, Canada and Britain). The end result was that they all refused to change their policies to help the Jews of Europe. This informative documentary recalls the series of events that occurred after that conference.

A loophole in Shanghai's law allowed a breath of relief to over 20,000 European Jews who were fleeing Hitler and his emerging Army.

Filmmakers Dana Janklowicz-Mann and Amir Mann tell a heart rending tale through survivors and old photographs. How they got there, how they lived and how they survived is told thoughtfully and sensitively.

Acting: It is a documentary - not applicable.

Critters: None.

Food: I would like to say there were won tons and kreplachs...but food was very scarce.

Visual Art: Everyone was too poor and hungry to have any art but there were some old photos that were sensational.

Blatant Product Placement: None.

Soundtrack: Music to make the heart break even harder.

Opening Titles: I don't remember.

Theater Audience: Very crowded indeed.

Squirm Scale: This is a subject that automatically makes me squirm.

Tissue Usage: One

Oscar Worthy: No.

Nit Picking: No nits to pick but disease was rampant, including nits.

Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine. Incidentally, I looked up Shanghai as a subject on the Internet Movie Data Base and found over 100 films with Shanghai in the title. Who knew?

Length: 95 minutes.

LOBO HOWLS: 5