AUGUST 4 • 2022 | 49

the Jewish community, and it shows art-
house cinema,” Oritt said. “In each of the 
communities where we’re launching the 
film, we’re depending on a lot of word of 
mouth and connecting with temples and 
other Jewish organizations to help spread 
the word.
“
A lot of people wanted to know what 
Sara’s impressions were of the making of 
the film. Unfortunately, Sara passed away 
in 2018, but she was not aware of the pro-
duction. It was Mickey’s choice. He felt 
it would have been too painful for her to 
know about it.”
In the talkback sessions, Shapiro and 
Oritt have found that a younger, gentile 
audience especially responds to the film, 
and Oritt credits that to the star of the 
film, Zuzanna Surowy, the young woman 

who plays Sara. A Polish actress now, she 
never acted before doing this film. 
While Oritt is asked about the film-
making, Shapiro is asked about his family 
background. 
The film does not show how both Sara 
(1930-2018) and her husband Asa (1922-
2017) were from the town of Korets, 
part of Poland before becoming part of 
Ukraine. Asa was in a Russian Labor 
Camp before being conscripted into the 
Russian Army. They married in Korets 
after learning most of their families had 
been murdered by the Nazis. Mickey 
was born in a displaced persons camp in 
Germany and was 2 years old when his 
parents brought him to America. 
“We’re trying to do as many presenta-
tions as we can,” Oritt said. “I’m proud 

that the film provokes a conver-
sation. People want to talk about 
it after it’s shown. To have these 
discussions, answering questions by peo-
ple who just saw it and are moved by it, is 
incredibly gratifying.”
Shapiro also finds the talkback 
important.
“She became a very good mother and 
loved her sons,” said Shapiro, founder and 
chairman of the M. Shapiro Real Estate 
Group and co-founder of Lautrec Limited. 
“She doted on us and hid her emotions. 
She was stoic in the film and in her life. 
She was very private. She didn’t share a 
lot with people. She didn’t trust people. I 
don’t blame her.
“We have to tell the world that this can 
and might happen again, and we have to 
do everything we can to stop it. We don’t 
have that many survivors left, and this 
film brings the Holocaust to life.” 

A photo from 
the filming of 
the movie.

Zuzanna Surowy stars 
as Sara in the film.

Details

My Name Is Sara and the 
talkback are being scheduled 
Aug. 5 at the Maple Theater 
in Bloomfield Township. To 
learn times and ticket prices, 
call (248) 855-9091.

