How Saba Kept Singing is finally coming home, to New Jersey!
The feature documentary about how my grandfather David Wisnia survived the Holocaust & our recent journey back to Poland as a family is here, making its US premiere at the Rutgers Jewish Film Festival in November! “How Saba Kept Singing” incorporates music by my Saba and me, plus an original song I wrote for the film.
This will be a very special screening attended by the Wisnia family. There will be two screenings, two chances to see the film, and each screening will conclude with a Q&A and performance by me. This will be a very meaningful and momentous day. We hope to see you there.
Sunday November 6, 3:30pm & 6:30pm at Regal Commerce Center, North Brunswick NJ RESERVE TICKETS
We made it home to find out that “How Saba Kept Singing” – the documentary about my grandfather’s story of survival and our return to Poland as a family – made the Top 20 Audience Award List at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival where it had its World Premiere. Out of more than 200 featured documentaries at the festival, these were the favorites!
The film premiere of “How Saba Kept Singing” in Toronto was an incredible experience. A beautiful theater, a great audience, a wonderful reception. People were laughing and crying, and applauding.
And then, to be invited up to perform, to perform a new song I wrote that premieres in the film, to perform a song my grandfather composed while a prisoner in Auschwitz, to have my music as a part of this project, to have my music intertwined forever with my grandfather’s,… it is the honor of my life.
Some early press and reviews for the documentary “How Saba Kept Singing”:
“HOW SABA KEPT SINGING is a towering achievement that moved me both to tears and laughter and, in a perfect world, Avi Wisnia deserves an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.” Read More in Mr. Will Wong reviews.
“How Saba Kept Singing” seeks to understand how Polish Jewish teenager David Wisnia survived nearly three years in Auschwitz. [It] lends a sense of urgency and poignancy to firsthand accounts of how survivors managed to endure and to move on.” Read More in Variety Magazine.
Oh, and Hillary Clinton tweeted about it.
We were speaking to so many warm and wonderful people after the premiere of “How Saba Kept Singing” that we missed our chance to get our picture taken as a family on the red carpet. I think this turned out much better.
Thank you Toronto for the warm welcome. This might be the end of our journey in Canada, but this is just the beginning of the journey for this film. Big congratulations to the director Sara Taksler, and all the people at Retro Report, Hidden Light, Burnt Umber and the Hot Docs Festival – thank you for making this such a memorable and meaningful experience.
For everyone interested in seeing the film who could not attend the premiere in Toronto, there will be a public premiere once the film has a distributor. We really cannot wait for you to see it. Stay tuned!
The documentary about how my grandfather David Wisnia survived the Holocaust & our recent journey back to Poland as a family is here, making its world premiere at the Hot Docs International Festival! “How Saba Kept Singing” features music by my Saba and me, plus an original song I wrote for the film.
When the director Sara Taksler told us about the premiere in Toronto, she invited our family to attend. How often does a film about your family get a premiere? So here we are, in Canada, and the family will attend the first screening on Sun May 1, with a special live music performance that will immediately follow the film.
Stay tuned for more information about screenings and festival appearances coming up in the next few months. This is just the beginning of the journey for this film! Eventually, we will all be able to watch “How Saba Kept Singing” together soon.
For those of you who knew my grandfather, for those of you who have been following our journey together over the past few years, you know how important this story is. My grandfather at first did not speak openly about his experience surviving the horrors of the Holocaust. But towards the end of his life, he found it important and necessary to talk about it. Although he passed away last summer, he was able to know that his story will be immortalized on film, able to reach a wider audience, a global audience. His story, his legacy, his voice will live on. I miss him every day, and while all of this is very overwhelming and emotional, I look forward to seeing him again, alive and singing, on a big screen. I’m excited for everyone to get to know my Saba.
The last trip we took together was back to Auschwitz.
Little did I know that the pandemic would hit just a few months later, and that I would lose my grandfather this past summer.
What I did know was that this day would eventually come, a day commemorating the Holocaust – without my Saba, without his presence, only recordings of his voice, only his words to quote. In 2020, we went back to Poland one last time to bear witness, to speak of the unspeakable, to sing in spite of those who tried to silence.
And he did sing. David Wisnia sang in full voice at the gates of Hell, pictured here, where the Nazis transported thousands upon thousands to be tortured and die, simply because they were different, simply because people were told that by separating them, hurting them, killing them – all their problems would be solved.
But we know better. Our problems are never solved by hurting others.
On this Yom HaShoah Day of Remembrance, I promise to Never Forget, to continue to tell my grandfather’s story of surviving the Holocaust. I will continue to keep my grandfather’s voice alive. My grandfather said to do good in this world. To make yourself a blessing.
As it is written in Hebrew: “V’Heyeh Brachah”
As human beings we are capable of inflicting great pain upon each, and we are capable of doing incredible good. Kindness. Compassion. Seeking justice. Standing up for what is right. What we ourselves choose to do impacts others, for we are all responsible for one another.
Remember the words of my grandfather. Choose to be a blessing.
I created a new section of my website to record the stories of our travels and performances together, with videos and other music to share. Read and follow our journey back to Poland here: www.mypolishwisnia.com
Join me for two streaming event this week to help commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day and honor my grandfather’s story of survival.
Tuesday April 26, Living Links Presentation Mercer County Community College NJ (register)
Wednesday April 27, My Polish Wisnia Presentation & Service Sinai Temple, Springfield MA (register)
Walking in the Steps of Our Grandparents: A Virtual Discussion with the Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors
Hosted by 3G organizations (grandchildren of Holocaust survivors) around the country, join us for a moderated online panel discussion with 3G’s who have all traveled to their grandparents’ home countries. We will hear about their individual experiences and explore various aspects of each powerful journey that was taken to discover a deeper understanding of their family’s roots. This event is free and open to the public.
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 7:30pm ET on Zoom Register to Attend the Virtual Event HERE
Read more about Avi Wisnia and his travels with his grandfather, Holocaust survivor and cantor David S. Wisnia: My Polish Wisnia
