0The German film review can be found here.
The plane lands. A group of excited students pours out of the airport and boards a coach awaiting them. Finally, they have arrived in Poland. On this school trip, the Israeli adolescents will visit various concentration camps and memorials of the Shoah. Their youthful exuberance is met with the weight of tragic history, as they grapple with the desire to break out of rules, have fun, and enjoy each other's company, while also visiting places steeped in the atrocities of the past.
The film uses hard cuts as a stylistic means to oppose between completely excited young people and the petrified faces of those confronted with the realities of the past. Students embrace and support one another as they process what they have experienced together. What to do with this cultural heritage? To what extent is one still affected by what happened? Is it okay not to be completely emotionally overwhelmed, not having to cry? In discussions aimed at reflecting on what they have experienced together, the young people open up to each other, helping them to process what they witnessed. Along with them is the grandfather of one of the students, who shares his own experiences. As a result of this journey he is once again confronted with his past, providing another unique perspective of this film.
While the film delves into the important confrontation with the past, it also shows that it is still a 'normal' class trip with young people facing their own problems, such as first love, heartbreak, and unfulfilled longings. So amidst the heavy subject matter, there is this liberating youthful lightness managing to break through.
The film is not only entertaining and thought-provoking, but it also soberingly reminds us of the ongoing danger that Jewish Israelis face and the ongoing need for Jewish Israelis to watch out for their safety. Each hotel first needs to be inspected by security personnel for any dangers. The students are advised that they should not publicly show that they are Jewish in order to avoid confrontations. It is shocking that even today Jews cannot openly declare their religion without fear of consequences.
Ha'Mishlahat gives the young people space, showcases different coping strategies without judgment. The grandfather's perspective adds an additional strength and depth to the film.
All in all, a very convincing film that manages to strike a balance between lightness and harshness, bridging the gap between the past and present. While the processing of the experiences at the memorial sites could have been given a little more space, the film inspires empathy and understanding among a modern audience, reminding them of the ongoing impact of the Shoah especially because of its connection to the day-to-day struggles of growing up.
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