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Watermarks

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Yaron Zilberman 2004

Watermarks is the story of the champion women swimmers of the legendary Jewish sports club, Hakoah Vienna who were stripped of their medals when they refused to represent Austria in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The women managed to flee the country before the war broke out with the assistance of Hakoah’s functionaries. We meet the women’s swim team as they reunite in their old swimming pool 65 years after they left.
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Running Time:
77 min.
Spoken Languages:
English, German, Hebrew
Subtitles:
English
Directors:
Yaron Zilberman
Producers:
Yaron Zilberman, Yonatan Israel, Paul Rozenberg, Philippa Kowarsky
Cinematographers:
Tom Hurwitz
Editors:
Yuval Shar, Ruben Korenfeld
Production Companies:
Yofi Films, Zadig Productions, Jetlag Productions, Cinephil
European History
Gender
History
Holocaust
Jewish Studies
Sports
Women

Press

  • New York Times
    “A moving documentary that approaches the Holocaust from a fresh, intimate perspective.”
    Stephen Holden
  • Variety
    “…Snappy, affecting documentary should grab attention as a forthcoming Kino release in the U.S… Sometimes funny, sometimes wrenching and persistently bittersweet, tale is a fascinating account of strength and solidarity, bolstered by vintage photos, edifying newsreels and winningly frank interviews.”
    Lisa Nesselson
  • NBC
    “I LOVED the film. A fascinating look back in time; a terrible time, but one in which some brave people lived and ultimately survived”
    Jeffery Lyons
  • The Nation
    “… A beautiful and humane documentary… using a remarkably rich collection of archival sources and contemporary interviews… their grace and dignity as they disrobe and begin to glide through the pool are enough to make even a reviewer misty.”
    Stuart Klawans
  • Boston Globe
    Wesley Morris
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  • LA Times
    Lydia Marcus
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  • Video Librarian
    Yaron Zilberman’s affectionate documentary combines archival footage and stills with interviews to sketch the history of the club and its importance to the Viennese Jewish community… Highly recommended.

Festival Participation

  • Jerusalem Film Festival - 2004
    Best Cinematography
  • Israeli Academy Awards
    Best Documentary nomination
  • Special Mention-Viennale
    Vienna International Film Festival
  • Palm Springs International Film Festival
    Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
  • Boston JFF
    Audience Award-
  • Washington JFF
  • Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
  • Hot Docs
    #2 Audience Award
  • Kiev International Film Festival
    Grand Prix
  • Rencontres Internationales de Cinéma à Paris
    Grand Prix

Additional Materials

Distribution Company

Cinephil
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