About the Film:

Alert: Film time start changed to 1:30 pm (not 1 pm) - our apologies.

A daughter tells the story of the controversial choices that her father, a Jewish artist from Poland, made in order to survive the Holocaust. Eddie Vitch (né Ignace Levkovitch) was a talented comedian, caricature artist, and mime. His iconic drawings of the silver screen’s biggest stars covered the walls of the iconic Brown Derby in Los Angeles—a famous Hollywood haunt and the stuff of celebrity lore— where Vitch drew and hobnobbed with stars like Joan Crawford, Clark Gabe, Bob Hope and Marlene Dietrich. After Vitch was deported to Europe in the 1930s, the Nazi Ministry of Propaganda ordered him to perform his hit mime act at some of Germany’s most prestigious theaters in front of the Gestapo and Nazi elite, including Goering and Goebbels—a task he continued throughout the war. Was he hiding in plain sight, or were the Nazis protecting him? As Vitch’s mysterious life is revealed, it becomes clear that what happened decades ago still affects his family today.

Exhibit & Reception:

Join the local filmmakers and producers, including Eddie Vitch's niece, Yaffa Maritz, after the film for an exhibit of Eddie Vitch’s famous Brown Derby caricatures of Hollywood celebrities and a Brown Derby-themed cake reception.

Special Guests:

Director Sigal Bujman was born in a Kibbutz in Israel, Sigal has been living in the US since 2002. She co-created and directed the 30-part cultural travel series "Fantastic Festivals of the World," "Haifa - the Silenced Voices," "Koxinga - A Heroes Legacy," and "Papa Boss." She is the director, producer, and writer of VITCH.

Marc Pingry is an Emmy Award–winning Director of Photography and Editor of VITCH has been in the filmmaking business for over 40 years. He worked for Public Television stations 22 years and in 1999 formed his own production company. Marc has shot documentaries around the world and has produced and edited programs that have aired on networks worldwide

Sponsors:

Gale Picker and John Larsen
Community Partner: Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation