This new work of art ‘Embrace’ was inaugurated today – Friday, October 26 – in Ganshoren , Brussels , Belgium. At the foot of the Basilica Koekelberg, at the beginning of the Van Overbekelaan, the corten steel sculpture was placed last monday and filmed in this panoramic view from the Basilica. This work is a translation of the remarkable friendship between artist Koenraad Tinel and lawyer Simon Gronowski, who both carry a heavy war history with them.
Embrace is a realization of the De Zeyp community center on the occasion of the 40th anniversary, and is part of the Grundtvig project ‘2WARdS-Europe’
Embrace (20181026) artwork panoramic view by Michel van der Burg – Miracles.Media | michelvanderburg.com
I have some wonderful news to share today.
Our documentary “From Buchenwald to Hollywood – The Robert Clary Story” will have its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF).
This year the 33rd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival will take place November 2 -18.
The festival screens films in Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Hollywood, St Augustine, and the Bahamas and is considered one of the most important regional film festivals in the U.S.
So once we have more information regarding screenings I will post it on my website.
A truly inspiring film about a Hollywood legend :
From Buchenwald to Hollywood , The Robert Clary Story
A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg
Richard Bloom Productions produced a new documentary about legendary actor, Broadway star, singer, artist, author and Holocaust lecturer, Robert Clary.
Mr. Clary is widely known for his role as Corporal Lebeau on the long running TV series Hogan’s Heroes.
What is little known by the public is that Robert’s real last name is Widerman, and in 1942 at the age of 16, he and thirteen members of his family were rounded up in Paris, France and deported by the Nazis to concentration camps. He was the only one of 14 immediate family members to survive, having endured 31 months in four Nazi camps and a death march until his liberation from Buchenwald by the U.S. Army on April 11, 1945.
He was discovered singing in a Paris nightclub in 1947, signed to a recording contract and brought to the United States in 1949 where he met Merv Griffin, who introduced him to Eddie and Ida Cantor and their daughter, Natalie, who he would later marry.
His inspiring story will be shared with the world in Richard Bloom Productions’ documentary : From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story . More at Richard Bloom Productions http://richardbloomproductions.com
20180919 ~ Robert Clary Story at Fort Lauderdale Int’l Film Festival .
① memo 20180611 ~ Bunker Tiger Terschelling ~ NL (English below) : Film ter gelegenheid van Bunker Dag afgelopen weekend. Verhalen van de bunkers van Terschelling , de Tiger Stelling en meer … door gids Peter de Jong bij aanvang rondleiding Bunker Museum Terschelling – Stichting Bunkerbehoud Terschelling.
EN : Film on the occasion of the Bunker Day last weekend. Stories by volunteer guide Peter de Jong on the former Luftwaffe Radar site “TIGER Stellung” and other bunkers on the Wadden Isle Terschelling , Netherlands
Filmed (with Sony RX100M2 & ECM-XYST1M mic) September 2017 at the Bunker Museum Terschelling – http://bunkersterschelling.nl – by Michel van der Burg – michelvanderburg.com | 1-memo.com
① memo 20180319 ~ PUSH Coming to Brussels Opera House Monnaie | Munt ~
Good news ! The community opera PUSH (written by composer Howard Moody) inspired by the true story of Simon Gronowski , a boy whose mother pushed him off the ‘Transport XX’ train heading to Auschwitz in 1943 – an action that saved his life and gave the opera its name – is now programmed in Simon’s hometown in March 2019 in the De Munt | La Monnaie opera house of Brussels .
Howard had met Simon, now in his 80s, in Brussels and promised to write an opera based on his life. PUSH tells this story but also deals with much broader themes of persecution.
After the world premiere of PUSH in 2016 in the UK , and a recent second performance in , Howard Moody once again brings together professional musicians and amateur performers – both adults and children – from the UK and Belgium in a unique theatrical experience.
Push! Push!
Push your child off the edge!
[…]
My mother gave birth to me twice
Pushing me towards freedom and life
Portraits of 17 people liberated from a cattle car of Transport XX to Auschwitz, 19 April 1943 in Boortmeerbeek, Belgium, by three young men – Youra Livschitz, Robert Maistriau and Jean Franklemon. Video of a photomontage (still) submitted today for The Art of War exhibition in Kazerne Dossin (BE) by Michel van der Burg
Today ‘Miracles’ is announced : our title for the upcoming documentary on Simon Gronowski and Koenraad Tinel !
Today, also, we announce the birth of the Miracles•Media site and new film house ! Miracles•Media is first and foremost for promotion of the Miracles documentary film, and will further serve as platform and online portfolio of other productions.
Ma vie n’est que de miracles – My life is only miracles – Simon Gronowski.
(NL)
Esther Naschelski leest ons voor uit haar boek ‘Achter de Stilte’* , haar gedicht ‘De puzzel van mijn leven’, tijdens het publieke optreden van schrijvers in ‘Stemmen In Het Museum’ , in het Kazerne Dossin museum op zondag 3 december 2017 , ter gelegenheid van het 5 jarig bestaan van het holocaust museum (als opvolger van het Joods Museum van Deportatie en Verzet) in Mechelen , België.
① memo 20180127 ~ Esther’s Puzzle ~ Film : Michel van der Burg – michelvanderburg.com | 1-memo.com
Esther Naschelski 3 dec 2017, Kazerne Dossin, Mechelen [BE] – Still film ‘Esther’s Puzzle’ (20180127) Michel van der Burg – michelvanderburg.com | 1-memo.comEsther is nog geen drie jaar , wanneer haar ouders in 1942 naar Auschwitz worden gedeporteerd. Ze zullen nooit meer terugkeren. Esther wordt verborgen gehouden en komt na de oorlog in een katholiek gezin terecht. Pas op 65-jarige leeftijd, leert Esther het ware verhaal van haar familie kennen.
Puzzle – Esther Naschelski – Still film ‘Esther’s Puzzle’ (20180127) Michel van der Burg – michelvanderburg.com | 1-memo.com
De Puzzel Van Mijn Leven
Mijn leven is een puzzel, een pijnlijke puzzel.
Verspreide stukjes, ergens, ver, ver.
Vergeten stukjes.
Verloren stukjes, weggegooide stukjes, verbrande stukjes.
Puzzels van scheidingen, omdat ik gescheiden werd van mijn lieve ouders.
Puzzels van berovingen, beroofd van mijn lieve ouders, wat het dierbaarste ter wereld is. Puzzels van vernederingen, bastaardkind, verlaten kind.
Puzzels van stilte, want men heeft alles verborgen voor me, gestolen kindertijd.
Ja, een pijnlijke puzzel.
(EN)
Esther Naschelski reads from her dutch book ‘Achter de Stilte’* (Behind the Silence) , her poem ‘De puzzel van mijn leven’ (The puzzle of my life) , during the writers public event ‘Stemmen in het Museum’ (Voices in the Museum) in the Kazerne Dossin museum , Sunday 3 december 2017 , marking the 5 year anniversary of the holocaust museum and memorial (as successor to the Jewish Museum of Deportation and Resistance) in Mechelen , Belgium.
① memo 20180127 ~ Film : Michel van der Burg – michelvanderburg.com | 1-memo.com
Esther is not yet three years old when her parents are deported to Auschwitz in 1942. They will never return. Esther is kept hidden and ends up in a catholic family after the war.
Only at the age of 65, Esther learns the true story of her family.
The Puzzle of My Life
My life is a puzzle, a painful puzzle.
Pieces scattered, somewhere, far, far.
Forgotten pieces.
Lost pieces, discarded pieces, burnt pieces.
Puzzles of separations, because I was separated from my dear parents.
Deprivation puzzles, deprived of my dear parents, which is the most precious in the world. Humiliation puzzles, bastard child, abandoned child.
Silence puzzles, because all was kept hidden for me, childhood stolen.
Yes, a painful puzzle.
(FR)
Esther Naschelski nous lit un extrait de son livre en néerlandais «Achter de Stilte» (Derrière le silence) , son poème «Le puzzle de ma vie» lors d’un événement public «Les voix dans le musée» au musée Kazerne Dossin, dimanche 3 décembre 2017, marquant le cinquième anniversaire du musée et mémorial de l’holocauste (en succédait au Musée Juif de la Déportation et de la Résistance) à Malines , en Belgique.
① memo 20180127 ~ Film: Michel van der Burg – michelvanderburg.com | 1-memo.com
Esther n’a pas encore 3 ans lorsque ses parents sont déportés à Auschwitz en 1942. Ils ne reviendront jamais. Esther est cachée et finit dans une famille catholique après la guerre.
C’est seulement à l’âge de 65 ans qu’Esther apprend l’histoire vraie de sa famille.
Le Puzzle De Ma Vie
Ma vie est un puzzle, un puzzle douloureux.
Des morceaux éparpillés, quelque part, loin, loin.
Des morceaux oubliés.
Des morceaux perdus, des morceaux jetés, des morceaux brûlés.
Des puzzles de séparations, parce que je fus séparée de mes chers parents.
Des puzzles de privations, privée de mes chers parents, ce qui est le plus cher au monde.
Puzzles d’humiliations, enfant bâtard, enfant abandonné.
Puzzles de silence, car on m’a tout caché, enfance volée.
Oui, un puzzle douloureux.
*NOTE
Achter de Stilte – Het verhaal van een verborgen Joods kind – Esther Naschelski & Hans Grietens – ACCO Uitgeverij
