Born in Poland in 1914 to a ferociously strong-willed communist mother and a deeply religious father, Sam Rechtman‘s life spanned a century of conflict and upheaval, yet he tells his story with equanimity and wry humour. History comes alive in idiosyncratic detail as director Michèle Smolkin illustrates her uncle’s anecdotes through archival footage, a buoyant score and charming animation by Elise Laroche. This rollicking, eye-witness account of the 20^th Century – from pogroms to the Russian Revolution to the French Resistance and the liberation of France – is a treat for anyone who enjoys an engaging story about the resilience of the human spirit.

Director Michèle Smolkin in attendance.