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What People Say
about
The Optimists
"The Optimists" is a wonderful
film. The title refers not only to a Bulgarian jazz band, but to how
the audience feels after watching such a moving testament to human
decency.”
-- Annette Insdorf,
Director of
Undergraduate Film Studies, Columbia University. Author of "Indelible
Shadows: Film and the Holocaust".
“Not only you showed miracle of
the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews, you explained why it was a miracle and
who created it. You showed that, if the people use the free will they
were granted to stay human, they are stronger than any doctrine that is
trying to reduce them to the animal level. You showed that optimism is
irrevocable part of human spirit and prevails even in the most terrible
time of war and mass madness.
The philosophy of The Optimists is so multilevel that it could be a
subject of a serious piece in a scientific psychological magazine. So,
Mr. Comforty please accept again our deepest gratitude.”
--
Valery and Sofia Bazarov,
HIAS
Location and Family History Specialist.
“Last night, my husband and I
saw "The Optimists" and were so affected by the story we couldn't sleep
for thinking about it. Why was it that the people of Bulgaria behaved so
differently than most of the world toward their Jewish friends? That is
the big question the film poses to the audience. Could this tiny
microcosm perhaps be the answer to the problems we are facing at our
moment in history? If people really KNOW one another and are able to
become fast friends, without losing their own identity, can this be the
answer? In Sofia, all religions peacefully co-existed and the Bulgarians
proved that there can be " man's humanity to man." A very thoughtful and
well made film. We hope it can receive more attention”
-- Nanjack,
IMDb user comments for The Optimists,
Wilmette IL,
12 November 2002.
“We were extremely moved and fascinated by your film -
because of the chapter of history it tells (which is still not so well
known), because of the characters it portrays, but also by the film as
such and by its filmic quality.”
-- Ulrich
Gregor, Director of The Forum for
New Cinema, Berlin International Film Festival.
“This is a film that celebrates the human spirit. It
offers hope that people of different races and religions can learn to
live together in peace.”
--Leora Eren
Frucht, Jerusalem Post
“This film
teaches how commitment to justice and respect for others can triumph
over oppression.A must-see for anyone learning or teaching the
Holocaust.”
--Dr.
Shani Beth-Halachmy, Associate Professor,
Educational Psychology, National Louis University.
“Hearty congratulations
on the warm reception of your film at the San Francisco Jewish Film
Festival. The dialogue that ensued demonstrates not only your command of
the material in your thoughtful replies, but also your skill as a
filmmaker who elicited such good questions. I have been at many such
sessions at film festivals. This session was one of the very best
interactions I have seen between a director and the audience. Bravo!”.
-- Edward
McGlynn Gaffney, Jr., Professor of Law Valparaiso University
“I watched your film "The
Optimists" last night and was incredibly moved and affected. Things
these days seem to fall more and more into these gray zones of morality.
I guess that comes with complicated times. But your film reminded me
that- above all- we share a common humanity- and this humanity can be a
very clarifying thing once realized. I'm neither Jewish or Bulgarian
nor from the WWII generation, but again, it didn't really matter since
what was shown in your film transcended religion and politics. We are
humans first. It's a simple notion but easily forgotten. Again, I loved
your film and am eager to tell my friends about it”
-- John Morgan,
per email.
"I think this is possibly the
best movie I've ever seen!! It was so refreshing and inspiring, without
trying to manipulate my emotions. I heard Jacky talk on Chicago Public
Radio on Saturday morning and had to go check it out. It was one of the
best movie-watching experiences I've ever had. It's no Citizen Kane - I
loved it because of it's message - that we can work together to change
the world one relationship at a time."
--
E. Hendrick,
per email.
"Your film is important,
beautiful, and compelling..."
-- N. Liskar, per
email.
”I
saw your film on Friday night! It is truly one of the best films I have
seen on the subject. You are sending a message of love and tolerance in
a world that has forgotten the meaning of these words. Thank you and
good luck”.
-- Danielle R. Pickard, Northwestern University
Information Technology.
“The Film shows something what I have been missing in the
last years: The human side of the human beings. Not only homo sapiens
but also homo homos. If you want to find out some other dimensions of
being human worth while, then watch this film. It will give you food for
thoughts. Above all food for what we forget often: to be human beings.”
-- Mygot, IMDb
user comments for The Optimists, Atlanta GA, 30 January, 2002.
The director must have done a lot of work on this film.
It is fairly interesting. I saw the film with friends of mine yesterday
and I am just wondering why this film has never been rated by anyone. If
you get the chance to see it and you are interested in non-rational
deeds which we call humanity, go ahead.
--Ivan Pop, IMDb
user comments for The Optimists, New York, NY, January 30 2002.
An exciting history about the
rescue of the Bulgarian Jews. And nobody was a hero, but a heroic
mentality from ordinary people. It is hard to imagine that the savers of
the Bulgarian Jews are their 'enemies': the orthodox church. But every
church deserves its people and on the contrary.
--Darius Sinkler, IMDb
user comments for The Optimists, New York, NY, January 30 2002.
“Jacky Comforty, besides having a terrific name,
has also done a superhuman job of connecting the dots on hundreds of
hours of footage and thousands of documents concerning the freeing of
the Jews of Bulgaria, amongst whom were his own family.”
-- Claudine Jones,
www.scene4.com, International Magazine of
Theater, film & Media.
****
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The Optimists is a
presentation of
Comforty
Media Concepts and the
Chambon
Foundation.
Produced and distributed by Comforty Media Concepts.
For
more information,
questions or comments please
contact
comforty@comforty.com
Last
modified:
September 29, 2004
Copyright © 2001 Comforty Media Concepts
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