28 | JANUARY 21 • 2021 

ARTS&LIFE

DOCUMENTARY

COURTESY OF VERONICA SELVER

S

usan Fanshel always will 
remember one import-
ant characteristic of the 
late mother of her best friend, 
Veronica Selver. When the two 
friends were teens and summer-
ing near the Atlantic Ocean, Irmi 
Selver invariably would walk 
along the coastline as they swam, 
watching them with a compelling 
intensity.
Fanshel could sense anx-
iety in the woman’s expres-

sion, but she did not understand 
fully until decades later, after 
reading Irmi’s memoir meant for 
those who knew her well.
Irmi described growing up 
in Germany, moving to other 
countries in escape of the Nazi 
onslaught and settling in America 
with a husband and two daugh-
ters. Most heart-wrenching was 
the part about traveling from 
Europe to Chile on a boat that 
hit Nazi explosives; Irmi was the 
only survivor of her earlier family, 
which had included a beloved 
husband, young son and younger 
daughter.
Fanshel, who settled in New 
York, and Veronica Selver, who 
moved to California, came to 
share career goals that recently 
joined them in letting others 
know about Irmi’s fortitude, 
which could not be squelched. 

My 
Mother’s
Pain, 
My Mother’s
Resilience

Documentary explores Holocaust 
survivor’s grief — and love of life.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DETAILS
Irmi can be seen beginning 
Tuesday Jan. 26, as part of 
the New York Jewish Film 
Festival. The festival, running 
Jan. 13-26, features each film 
beginning at noon on the 
specified date and holding for 
72 hours. $12 each. Listings 
and reservation information 
are available by accessing 
filmlinc.org or calling 
(212) 875-5367.

Veronica Selver and Irmi Selver, c. 1991. BOTTOM: Susan Fanshel and Irmi Selver 

also taken in 1991.