Book of Life
Based on an untold LGBTQ+ story, The Book of Life is a film about love and resilience in the face of unthinkable darkness.
The
As Jews face mass deportations, two queer Jews, Gad and Manfred, confront the harsh realities of Hitler’s Final Solution together.
Berlin, 1942:
GAD
Gad Beck is a young and charismatic Jewish man living in Berlin during World War II. An active member of HeHalutz, a Zionist Youth Organization, Gad demonstrates courage, resilience, and determination in the face of increasing peril. His relationship with Manfred Lewin is a testament to the power of love amidst chaos — a bond of profound depth and vulnerability. Gad demonstrates his willingness to take risks, loyalty, and a capacity for love and anguish in a treacherous time.
MANFRED
Manfred Lewin is an introspective young Jewish man living in Berlin during World War II. He has been in a relationship with Gad Beck for over a year. Manfred is an active member of the HeHalutz Youth Group and a passionate Zionist. Facing deportation to camps in the east, he faces a difficult decision of whether to leave Berlin with his family or to stay and resist alongside Gad.
WHY NOW?
Antisemitic graffiti in Beverly Hills, CA in 2023
In the wake of the significant increase in antisemitic incidents globally following the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians in October 2023, the largest killing of Jews since the Shoah, "The Book of Life" acquires a heightened sense of urgency and relevance. This recent eruption of Antisemitism is part of a broader, troubling trend, as evidenced by the Anti-Defamation League's documentation of a 388% increase in such incidents in the United States alone, which underscores the growing tide of antisemitism over the past few years.
This alarming trend underscores the importance of "The Book of Life," particularly as it is the first film to focus on queer individuals in the Holocaust. The film serves not just as a historical recount but as a potent reminder and an urgent call to action in the present times where the lessons of history are at risk of being forgotten.
"The Book of Life" is profoundly resonant in our current climate, as it emphasizes the perils of neglecting the lessons of the past in a time of resurging hatred and bigotry.
Sizzle reel coming soon!
What can you do?
A photograph taken by Manfred Lewin circa 1940 of Gad Beck and other members of HeChalutz, the Zionist youth movement they were part of on the roof of the Jewish school at Artilleriestrasse 14 in Berlin.
