There are many ways that we can bring history alive – through personal testimony from the people who lived through different moments in history, letters and diaries, newspaper clippings and cartoons, audio (music, speeches, radio interviews, podcasts), through film, and more. Oftentimes, it’s these primary and secondary sources that bring to light stories of people and places from around the world that we would not hear or know otherwise – the voices and experiences that go untold too often, or stand to be forgotten. Every year, Facing History partners with filmmakers whose work wrestles with the complex moments in human history, and helps bring their films into classrooms and communities. It’s an opportunity to engage students, teachers, and the general public with stories from past that matter today.
Tomorrow, we are presenting a screening of one of those films, the Sundance Award-winning documentary Watchers of the Sky, at the 19th annual Nantucket Film Festival. Watchers of the Sky looks at four stories of remarkable courage, compassion, and determination, while setting out to uncover the forgotten life of Raphael Lemkin, the man who first coined the term genocide. Facing History is working with Watchers of the Sky director Edet Belzberg and her team to create four educational clips from the film with connections questions that educators can use with students or in classrooms during units that look at genocide and human rights. Look for the clips on our website this fall.
Last week, the Nantucket Film Festival featured an interview with our Vice President and Chief Program Officer Marc Skvirsky and Chair of the Board Jill Karp about the film. Here's what Marc had to say:
We can easily become numbed by what we hear and read in the press about the atrocities that are committed across the globe, but Watchers of the Sky manages to slow time down, as it interweaves the powerful stories of people who have devoted their lives to preventing genocide. The film looks at our potential for doing evil as we pan historical events in the 20th and 21st centuries, but it also highlights our capacity for goodness. One of these stories is about Raphael Lemkin.
During the Holocaust, he lost 49 relatives, yet he maintained his resolve to bring the new term that he developed, 'genocide,' to the attention of the international community. The rest of his life was devoted towards laying the groundwork for other 'upstanders' to advocate for genocide prevention. It’s fascinating to consider how a filmmaker can relate such a powerful story through archival footage and interviews, while also integrating incredible animation and a rich musical score. The portraits of these individuals are inspiring."
Watch the trailer for the film here:
How do you use film in the classroom or to study history? We'd love to hear from you, post your comment below.
Facing History is in its sixth year of collaborating with the Nantucket Film Festival to present films that help audiences better understand the dangers of intolerance and the potential we all have to make an impact in our community. You can find out more about our June 27 screening of Watchers of the Sky here and buy your tickets.
