REFUSENIK
Refusenick is an eye-opening documentary that tells about the activists around the world who came to the forefront to help free Jews who became prisoners in their own country. The film covers a span of thirty years.
In the 1960’s, anti-Semitism rose in the Soviet Union. Jews were denied many rights, their Synagogues were closed, Hebrew studies were forbidden, and entrance into many universities was denied. Yet, when the Jews requested visas to leave the country, they were told that they could never leave. Rather,
they were fired from their jobs, some sent to prison, others exiled to Siberia.
They endured inhumane hardships and many wondered if they would be living out the next Holocaust simply for want of freedom. But while they were struggling, activists in the United States, England, Canada and France were organizing demonstrations, lobbying governments to put pressure on the Russian Government. Eventually America passed legislation regarding human rights that put limits on the amount of business the United States would conduct with countries that violated human rights. Finally, in 1989, The Soviet Union, after years of pressure, changed their policies and allowed
the people their freedom.
In this very inclusive and important film, written, produced and
directed by Laura Bialis, we are told, by both sides, of these callous events, those who survived and were finally freed, as well as some of the activists involved in their delivery (including interviews with Natan Sharansky and L.A, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky). An important film to be sure.
Opening in Los Angeles May 23
Running time 118 minutes