At a premiere held this week in Haifa, the documentary Miss Holocaust Survivor, directed by Radek Wegrzyn, was screened for the first time. Filmed during a unique beauty contest organized by the Yad Ezer L’Haver association, the film follows women aged 75 to 95—all Holocaust survivors—as they prepare to walk the runway.
The moving event drew many guests, including ambassadors, consuls, director Wegrzyn, and two of the film’s leading figures: Holocaust survivors Tova Ringer and Rita Kasimow Brown, who shared their life stories as part of the production.
Healing, reflection, and memory through a dress and high heels
I came to the screening with slight hesitation. I usually avoid Holocaust films—not because the stories matter less, but because the pain is so piercing, and the way it’s often portrayed—graphic, harsh, soul-deep—can leave a heavy echo for days.
But from the moment this film began, I realized it offered a different kind of experience. Miss Holocaust Survivor touches on deeply painful stories with rare gentleness, weaving together fragility and strength, sorrow and hope. The personal journeys of these brave women—who continue stepping forward even as they look back—reached something very deep within me.
Unlike my usual reaction to Holocaust films, I didn’t feel overwhelmed—I felt strengthened. Supported. As if the women themselves were saying: It’s okay to remember, and it’s okay to keep living.
Especially now
Screened against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza and the efforts to return the hostages, the film offers a renewed perspective—one that centers on life after tragedy, and on the choice to embrace humanity and joy.
In an interview with Rega NEWS, director Radek Wegrzyn spoke about the timing of the screening:
“After October 7, many people asked me whether this was the right time for a film like this. And I say—especially in times like these, we need to see films and hear stories about extraordinary women. Holocaust survivors endured horrific things in their youth and went on to build incredible lives. They have families, children, grandchildren. They are beautiful in the most complete sense. This is absolutely the right time for a film like this.”
A few months ago, the film won a special award named for Jewish-American director Ernst Lubitsch at a Berlin film festival. During the event, Wegrzyn shared that the documentary will soon be broadcast on German television and launched internationally.
Dignity and strength
Shimon Sabag, founder and CEO of Yad Ezer L’Haver, reflected on the film:
“These are some of the last Holocaust survivors left in the world—women who chose to face their nearly unthinkable fate with dignity and strength.”
He added:
“Today more than ever, it is vital to embrace and uplift the people of Israel after the horrors of the Holocaust and October 7. We believe that the message of ‘Never Again’ must resonate throughout the world and remind all of us of the importance of unity and human dignity.”
A proud smile instead of tears
Miss Holocaust Survivor is not just a film about memory—it’s a film about life. It reminds us that this isn’t distant history, but the voices and dreams of real people who are still among us. It’s a touching, inspiring, and beautiful film—one that stays in the heart long after the credits roll.
