SBIFF - 2011 Opening Night Film: Sarah's Key

Sarah's Key opened the 26th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theater on January 27, 2011. Before the film, there was a plethora of activity on the Red Carpet as filmmakers, celebrities and local dignitaries paraded towards the theater.

Sarah's Key director, Gilles Paquet-Brenner

Before the film started I was mingling around in the crowded lobby and the red carpet at the ArlingtonTheater. I overheard people talking about their expectations of this film. Many were wondering whether it was a good choice to open the festival with.  So, I will start this review with this question:  Is "Sarah's Key", a film having to do with the Holocaust a good way to start the 26th Santa Barbara International Film Festival?  Read on...

"Sarah's Key"  begins with the 1942 roundup of a Jewish family by the police in Paris, France. The first few scenes are viewed through the eyes of 10 year old Sarah who doesn't understand what is going on.

SBIFF Sponsor, Lynda Weinman

When the police come to take the family away, Sarah, convincingly played by Melusine Mayance, quietly tells her 4 year old brother to hide in the closet. She assumed her family would all return home in a little while. She told her brother to promise to stay in the closet until she returned. She then locked the closet and was taken away with her mother and father. They were then taken to hellish conditions at the Vélodrome d’Hiver along with thousands of other people. From there they were moved to a concentration camp and ultimately to Auschwitz. Though some of the scenes were understandably uncomfortable to watch the movie drew the audience in because of the well-crafted nature of the film as well as the great acting and storyline.

Fast forward to present day...  Another story in the film follows a journalist, Julia, played by Kristin Scott Thomas.

Executive Director, Roger Durling

She is researching a story about the French deportation of Jewish families and learns about a possible connection to her family. Julia is determined to learn the truth about what happens to Sarah as well Julia's family and that connection.

The movie eloquently jumps back and forth between these two stories that later merge in somewhat unexpected ways.  Back to 1942. While at the concentration camp, Sarah, realizes she must find a way to escape so she can rescue her brother. That is all I am going to say about the plot because I don't want to ruin it for any of you considering seeing the movie. (And you should see this movie).

Back to my original question;  "Is a film about the Holocaust a good way to start the 26th Santa Barbara International Film Festival?" Films are not always about feeling good. We all know there are way too many "feel good" movies. Some good, some bad. (I should mention here that Sarah's Key is not a film that ultimately makes one feel bad!).

SB County Supervisor, Das Williams

The more important question is to ask yourself what a film festival's purpose is? To make one feel good? No. The purpose of a film festival is to celebrate, and explore all that has to with creating films. Films don't always make us feel good. A film attempts to take a viewer into it's world. A film can make you feel good... or bad... or sad... or happy or...  you name it.  Often we feel many emotions while absorbed in a film. We certainly do in Sarah's Key. So my answer is a huge YES! "Sarah's Key" is a perfect film to open this year's film festival.

I mentioned earlier that there are scenes that are uncomfortable to watch because of the reality of what happened surrounding the Holocaust however the scenes don't go to the place you'd expect them to or cause you to want to leave the movie.  On the contrary, this film is so well crafted and acted you can't help but stay through it and experience this exceptional story which by the way is also a best selling book. Well crafted films take us to places...  they explore human emotions... they make us think... and wonder...  This film definitely brought  the sold out audience to some interesting places and definitely made us think about many things from human suffering, truth, and love, to children and innocence... and intense determination and emotional growth.

"Sarah's Key" is a work of fiction but the audience is left wondering how close the story is to some actual stories that took place during the Holocaust. I appreciate how the film made us think about that.

I should also mention that January 27, was International Holocaust Remembrance Day so it was also appropriate to show this movie for that reason.

Red Light Revolution, Writer/Director, Sam Voutas with Producer, Melanie Ansley

After the film, at the huge after-party I asked as many people as I could what they thought of the film and whether they thought it was a good choice for opening night.  The overwhelming majority of people said they had the same initial question that I did during the first few minutes of the film.  They also agreed that the film was so well put together and acted it pulled them into it's world. Not one person I spoke with was disappointed in Sarah's Key.

In the spirit of film-making, celebrating, exploring, and learning about films,  which is what Film Festivals are all about, "Sarah's Key"  was a great choice for opening night.  Be sure to see it when you get a chance!