Jewish WWII Ghetto Art Explored in France Doc Feature

Exclusive: ARTE France has ordered a feature documentary about the role of Jewish ghettos during the Holocaust

The Shoah Ghetto (La Shoah des Ghettos) will run in the cultural network’s prime-time history slot. Parnell Media attached to produce the 90-minute doc with support from the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah. Directed by Barbara Nechek.

Between 1939 and 1941 at the start of World War II, the Nazis established more than 1,000 ghettos in Central and Eastern Europe. Poland alone had more than 300 of them. At least half of Europe’s Jews lived in ghettos during the war, and more than 800,000 people died during their stay.

The doc will establish a new historical perspective on the events through access to never-before-seen personal archives, films, letters and photographs.

Parnell is also developing a 60-minute version of the film for the international market.

The Shoah Ghetto Commissioned by Fabrice Puchault and Anne Grolleron for ARTE France. Parnell’s executive producer is Fabrice Franck.

“The ghetto was the death knell for the Jews of Eastern Europe. Once the Final Solution became a reality in 1942, the ghettos were gradually destroyed, but some remained until the end of the war as an integral part of the Holocaust,” said Frank. “The film aims to pay tribute to this vanished Jewish world by giving the victims their testimonies, which show the hope, despair and spirit of spiritual, religious and even armed resistance of the Jews of the ghetto.”

Paris-based Pernal is behind shows like this The real battle for thrones, Ancient superstructure And 20 years on the death row.