Watching the Moon at Night

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Nowy wysoko ceniony szwedzki film ” ”Watching the Moon at Night” – o terroryzmie i antysemityzmie nakrecony przez Bo Persson i Joanna Helander został zaproszony do Polski do Kielc w związku z rocznicą pogromu w 1946 i uhonorowaniem Żydów, zamordowanych podczas pogromu w Kielcach.

Voices about the film:

 “Watching the Moon at Night” is an intellectually informative, visually compelling, emotionally moving and highly disturbing exploration of the phenomena of terrorism in our time. By exploring its roots, listening to its victims and showing its consequences “Watching the Moon at Night” sheds important new light on the scourge of our time. The film remained with me long after the screen went dark, remained with me and touched the darkness and the rage of our age”. – Michael Berenbaum, First Project Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, President Shoah Visual History Foundation and currently Director of the Sigi Ziering Institute, Los Angeles

“Combining history, incisive analysis and moving interviews with victims and witnesses of terror, this important film gives us chilling and wide-ranging insight into the nature and the underlying causes of contemporary violence.  Powerful, distressing and bringing aesthetic craft to its dark subject, “Watching the Moon at Night” should be seen by anyone who is interested in understanding the deep roots of global terrorism and anti-Semitism, and the threat posed by its advocates today.”
– Eva Hoffman, London, Author of “After Such Knowledge: A Meditation on the Aftermath of the Holocaust” and “Illuminations” a novel about the romanticism of violence.

” ‘Watching the Moon at Night’ is a film that touches on some of the most important questions of our time. It depicts contemporary terrorism and political attempts to justify it, the emergence of a new modern anti-Semitism and the present situation in the Middle East, the aftermath of the Holocaust and its denial. The film shows the common ground shared by victims the world over and the similarities between the perpetrators. In the film there is no simplifying thesis, no ‘political correctness’. The perspective of the filmmakers is personal and emotional. The film truly makes you think. ” – Agnieszka Holland, Film director and Chairwoman of the European Film Academy

“This powerful and persuasive film refuses to hide behind political correctness in forcing attention on a growing danger. Very powerful and well done.” – Alan Dershowitz, Lawyer, Author and political commentator. Felix Frankfurter Professor at Harvard Law School

”Watching the Moon at Night” by Bo Persson & Joanna Helander is an illuminating and poetic film which deserves a wide audience.” – Robert S. Wistrich, Professor of European and Jewish history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the head of Vidal Sassoon International Centre for the study of Anti-Semitism

“One of the best film I have ever seen. It should be shown everywhere.” – Canon Andrew White, Vicar of St George´s Church, Baghdad

Watching the Moon at Night serves as a calm, compassionate and compelling witness to the universal experience of trauma, grief, and wounds that sits in the dramatic underbelly of terrorism in the 21st century. We listen to the intimate narratives that victims of terrorism share with us, boldly, courageously and humanely, and we are left gasping, Watching the Moon at Night, and hoping for peace of mind for all. 

Asra Q. Nomani is a former Wall Street Journal reporter who co-authored The Truth Left Behind, an investigation into the kidnapping and murder of her friend and colleague, Daniel Pearl. She is the author of Standing Alone: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam.

“A truly dramatic film and very, very important. Excellently made; the film should be obligatory screening for all generations” – Ewa Lipska, Poet, Kraków

“As a film commissioner at The Swedish Film Institute I read about a thousand scripts, both feature films and feature length documentaries. Among the creative documentaries not a single one had the impact, the intelligence and the scope of ”Watching the Moon at Night”. It is a rare film on a subject widely talked about – but never quite in this compelling way. The film digs too deeply to be ”politically correct” and becomes a little scary, especially in a country like Sweden where political correctness seems to be the religion of the day. I truly believe that ”Watching the Moon at Night” deserves a wide international audience.”  – Marianne Ahrne, Film director and Writer, Stockholm

“‘Watching the Moon at Night” is among the most powerful, intelligent, and timely documentaries on terrorism available. The film is a thoughtful and thought provoking depiction of contemporary terrorism, anti-Semitism, and radical Islam, at a moment when the Middle East is again erupting in violence and anti-Semitism is spreading across Europe. By giving the victims of terrorism a voice,  ‘Watching the Moon at Night’  makes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of politically and religiously motivated violence–and its corrosive consequences on society and individuals alike. The filmmakers are to be lauded for creating a compelling and original perspective on these issues through the many interviews and gripping images presented in the documentary.”  – Professor Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown University, Washington DC and author of ”Inside Terrorism”.

 “A very strong film about the history of anti-Semitism, the motives behind terrorism and the impossibility of having rational discussions with political and religious fanatics.” – Georg Klein, Writer and Professor of Medicine, Member of the Swedish Nobel Committee

“A strong film. It re-awakened me to the fact that we live in the Age of Terrorism, something that is all too easy to forget when you’re living in a place that has yet to be touched. The film’s many different voices keep the texture complex like the reality it describes. Required viewing.”

Richard Lourie, author of both fiction and nonfiction, including “Sakharov: A Biography”. He is currently a correspondent for The Moscow Times.

”A fantastic film which should be screened in the UN and wherever it is possible.” – Rolf Ekéus, former UN Weapon Inspector in Iraq, Sweden’s ambassador to the United States and the chairman of the board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

“Watching the Moon at Night” is an important and essential film. It deals with two key issues: anti-Semitism and terrorism, which, alas, frequently intersect. These are two sensitive subjects and, therefore, sometimes avoided. The filmmakers put the men and women directly involved in the events and those with a deep knowledge of them at center-stage. They are people with different backgrounds and perspectives: Americans, Frenchmen, Poles, Irish, Israelis, Algerians, Iranians and many more. Their testimony is poignant, their analysis to the point. In addition, the film has great beauty, which certainly does it no harm. An admirable work which it would be unforgivable to overlook.” – Claude Kayat, Writer, Stockholm

“The remarkable film “Watching the Moon at Night” shows that it is possible to make the history of terrorism and anti-Semitism intelligible. It presents a panoply of the terrorist phenomena in modern times and in diverse corners of the world. Victims of terrorism, political analysts, philosophers, historians, and psychologists explore this dark side of history. Among the international group of commentators are Walter Laqueur, André Glucksmann, and Robert S. Wistrich. Poems by the Polish poet and Nobel laureate Wisława Szymborska set this story of terror against art, art as solace in a situation of despair.” – Kristian Gerner, Professor of History and former Chairman of the Swedish Committee against Anti-Semitism

“´Watching the Moon at Night” is a rare film in that it combines a deep knowledge of international terrorism, with a sensitive insight to the victims´ plight. The focus that is on the victims, their relatives and next-of-kin, raises the film to become this seldom achieved and outstanding piece. The films scope is broad, compiling experiences from all walks of life and various political and geographical contexts, to show the extended threat that international terrorism has become. This is important because it points to the necessity of heightened international cooperation, not only concerning preventing and combating terrorism (and terrorists), but also the need for more cooperative efforts when dealing with the aftermaths of a terror-attack. The film clearly shows how vital that aspect of terrorism is. It is to be recommended that the film obtains a very broad audience and that it is incorporated in as many educational efforts as possible, around the globe.” – Dr. Magnus Norell, Senior Policy Advisor at The European Foundation for Democracy in Brussels, Adjunct Scholar at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Washington D.C.

“As a clinical psychologist and victimologist who has studied in depth the impact of massive trauma such as the Holocaust and genocide, wars and terrorism on survivors and their offspring for several decades, and advocated for victims’ rights and optimal care, I warmly recommend this masterful and eloquent film with its panorama of witnesses, insights, and compelling images. It should be seen by the wide general audience as well as professionals and students in the field.” – Dr Yael Danieli, New York, Director, Group Project for Holocaust Survivors and their children. Past President, Senior Representative to the United Nations of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. 

”A brilliant film!”  – Dr Jessica Stern, Lecturer on terrorism at Harvard University. Author of ”Terror in the Name of God”.

“The very word “terrorism” conjures fear. Terrorism is like the Plague. Keep away! Don´t get close! It could be me next time! Panic! Turn the page. Avoid! The filmmakers have masterfully and with the great skill of surgical precision, gently drawn back the fragile veil between life and death rendered through the deliberate violence of an act of terrorism. The film sensitively and non-invasively, portrays both the loss and the continuance, mourning alongside advocacy. It draws the viewer into an otherwise silent world and gives a quiet, sometimes broken but rational voice to the Victims of Terrorism and their well spoken requests for justice, reform and human rights.
The viewer will be upset, will be agitated. Good. The viewer should be haunted because the cinematography which the film provides is the purest vehicle to enlighten, equip and tastefully encourage the viewer to arise from apathy and self complacency and act with knowledge and responsibility to humanity for the sake of those lives which have been snatched away, and to leave a worthwhile inheritance for generations to come.” – Lisa Miara, Founder/President Springs of Hope Israel, Founder/President WALK WITH ME. The Global Forum for Victims of Terrorism, CEO The Global Justice Group

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