The Long Way Home (1997)

The Long Way Home Poster

The story of the post World War II Jewish refugee situation from liberation to the establishment of the modern state of Israel.

Film Overview
"The Long Way Home" is a historical documentary directed by Mark Jonathan Harris. The film, launched in 1997, investigates the historic events that took place from 1945 to 1948, affecting Jews in post Second World War Europe. The story lays focus on the Holocaust survivors and describes their obstacles from liberation to their journey in developing the state of Israel. The tale is informed through tear-jerking stories, remarkable video footage, and individual interviews.

Main Narrative
The film opens up in 1945, following the end of World War II. While freedom from Nazi concentration camps spells freedom, numerous Jewish Holocaust survivors discover themselves in alarming conditions, sick, weak, and with nowhere to go as their homes have actually been destroyed or occupied by strangers. They wind up in Displaced Persons (DP) camps, which ironically bear unpleasant similarities to the prisoner-of-war camp they have actually gotten away from.

In addition, the film remarks upon the problem presented by the British, who governed Palestine under a League of Nations Mandate. As they had restricted Jewish migration to Palestine in order to maintain peace with its Arab population, many of the survivors found themselves unable to leave Europe for Palestine. The film highlights the refusal of many countries, including the U.S and Britain, to relax their migration quotas, which would have permitted more Holocaust survivors to resettle.

Survivors' Struggles
While focusing on the challenges dealt with by survivors, "The Long Way Home" likewise paints an emotive picture of the Jewish people's strong determination to reconstruct their lives post-war and establish a homeland. We are revealed personal stories of love and bravery that emerged amidst the anguish - private Jewish marital relationships, the birth of kids, and performing secret schools in the DP camps. Likewise, we are shown the predicament of orphaned Jewish children concealed in Christian homes during the war and their agonizingly conflicting identities when discovered.

The Journey to Palestine
The film follows those survivors who determinedly choose to unlawfully immigrate to Palestine running the risk of everything. They board broken, improvised ships and face British blockades, internment on Cyprus, and finally trespassing to Palestine. The film portrays their ruthless battle that eventually led to the British handing over the control of Palestine to the United Nations.

Establishment of Israel
The climactic scenes of the film offer an account of the establishment of the State of Israel following a U.N vote in November 1947. This historic occasion marked a major triumph for the Jewish individuals, as they finally belonged to call home. Nevertheless, the film also doesn't negate the resulting dispute with the Palestinians, preparing for future Middle-East difficulties.

Conclusion
Overall, "The Long Way Home" offers an extremely comprehensive and thoughtful representation of the trials and triumphs sustained by the Jewish people publish the Holocaust. It supplies a deep insight into history, leaving the audience with a gratitude of the battle and strength of the Jewish individuals and understanding the events leading up to the development of Israel. The movie won an Academy Award for best documentary function, affirming its powerful storytelling and historical worth.

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