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.