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Alt-Doc ‘Irmi’ About Holocaust Survivor by Karl F. Cohen
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Poster for 'Irmi' by local filmmakers Veronica Selver and Susan Fanshal. image: Catherine Margerin
I ESPECIALLY WANTED TO WATCH THE
70-minute documentary “Irmi” to see what a friend from the past, Catherine Margerin, contributed (she did wonderful, award-winning animation at Colossal Pictures in the last century).
I found it to be a rich, emotionally-moving film experience, which mixes animation, archival and contemporary interviews. It presents the life of Irmi Selver, the mother of Veronica Selver who co directed along with Susan Fanshal, who was born in 1906 into an affluent German Jewish family.
The film, as you might guess, is an uplifting personal story built around tragedy, survival and redemption. From family photos we know Irmi came from a progressive family with German Expressionist paintings on the walls and impressive modern furniture. Prior to the rise of Hitler, her life was quite comfortable. She was well educated and she had a successful marriage.
Then the film explores what happened. It isn’t a heroic story of being in the underground or the tragic story of concentration camps. Instead it is the less familiar story, at least to me, of escape from several countries, the loss of several family members and close friends, severe mental depression and, most importantly, finding yourself and rebuilding your life.
There are dramatic moments including the escape from Germany and then a disastrous escape from Holland. There are other tragic moments including the loss of loved ones. While Irmi has moments of deep depression, what impressed me was her having the strength to rebuild her life, to find new purposes to her life, to help others and to create a new circle of family and friends.
'Irmi' features lovely animation by Catherine Margerin. image: C. Margerin
This deeply personal documentary by her daughter Veronica is based on Irmi Selver’s memoir. It is set for theatrical release on November 13. Locally there will be a virtual opening at the Roxie. It is also going to be shown at the Pacific Film Archive. It was shown locally as part of the Jewish Film Institute’s Cinegogue Summer Days.
The film is a collaboration between Bay Area based filmmaker Veronica Selver and Susan Fanshal. Both Veronica and Susan have specialized in social issue documentaries and have strong ties to the Bay Area. They previously collaborated on “KPFA On Air”, exploring the history of the Berkeley based radio station. Veronica is based in the Bay Area and Susan is a graduate of UC Berkeley, was based in the Bay Area for many years and now resides in New York.
Karl F. Cohen—who decided to add his middle initial to distinguish himself from the Russian Karl Cohen, who tried to assassinate the Czar in the mid-19th century—is an animator, educator and director of the local chapter of the International Animation Society and can be reached . Posted on Oct 22, 2020 - 05:17 PM