Watermarks

Name: Watermarks
Director: Yaron Zilberman
Released: 2004

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

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

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