Izsak and Shep blissfully catching up on time in “Aida’s Secret.”
Credit: @aidas_secret
Can you imagine finding out secrets about your family history? How about being an elderly individual, who is eager to meet a sibling that you’ve been separated from since a toddler?
The documentary “Aida’s Secret” is based on a true story about the life of Aida Zasadisinska. The film stars Izsak Sagi and Shep Shell. The melancholy yet, jovial documentary was released on Oct. 20, 2017, and was written and produced by Hail Efrat, Alon Schawarz, and Shaul Schawarz.
Sixty- seven (67) year old Izsak is searching for his long-lost brother, from the onset we are instantaneously taken on a journey to solve the mysteries of the past. Izsak must rely on his mothers’ memories that we see as flashbacks, to gain answers to reuniting with his brother.
This documentary is reminiscent of the World War II era, where Izsak learns he was separated from his brother during the battle at Bergen- Belsen (The largest displaced persons camp located in Germany). At this point in the documentary, we are lead in the task of detective work, to figure out what happened, as the tale of a family’s severance is unraveled.
The documentary gets even more mysterious when Izsak finds out that Aida withheld this secret from him. The question is then posed, did Aida forget what happened to her son or is she withholding a secret? Izak is then accompanied by his nephews “The Schwarzes” who assists him in his quest to his past. We then find that the search requires more than what Izak and his nephews are capable of. The trio enlists the aid of several private investigators operating in, Europe, Canada, and Israel.
The reunification of the brothers signifies an emotional shift in the movie, as Izsak reunites with his brother Shepsel, who was living in Winnipeg. Even more of an emotional bind, is the revelation of the long lost brother to be blind. Notwithstanding the tribulations experienced throughout the movie, one of the most difficult parts of the mystery was inevitable; it was now time for Izsak to take his brother to meet their mother, Aida. When Izsak and Shep reunite with their mother, there are numerous character nuances are seen. One of which is portrayed in Aida, who appears to be distant and cold towards her sons. The embrace they give each other is one that is awkward, and the documentary fosters the air between them very well.
The Holocaust left many families displaced and caused increased separation between families in Germany. As the documentary comes to an end, Izak and Shep continue to unravel the mysteries of their families’ past. The documentary will continue May 3, 2018, backdropped in Toronto, Canada where the brothers find themselves searching for a suspected third brother. Overall, this documentary leaves the audience in great suspense with a lot of unanswered questions. This documentary would cater to an audience who loves to solve mysteries, those that love historical period based pieces and those that love happy endings. The fluidity of the documentary was slow paced, yet intriguing but lacks the depth and emotional aspects it reaches for because of its shoddy work.
Movie Review Score: 2 paws out of 5 paws.
