The Last Flight of Petr Ginz

The Last Flight of Petr Ginz (2012) is a heart-wrenching yet truly inspirational journey into the life and untimely death of the prolific child prodigy, Petr Ginz. From documentary filmmakers Sandra Dickson and Churchill Roberts, the film unfolds the story of a young Czechoslovakian Jew who managed to leave an indelible mark on the world through his creative endeavors despite his brief lifespan, cut short by the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The documentary is enhanced considerably by the performances of Chava Pressburger and Yehudit Shendar. Pressburger, who is the surviving sister of Ginz, pays emotional tribute to her brother throughout the movie, her personal narratives that unveil her deep love and admiration for him, setting the tone for a heart-wrenching tale. Meanwhile, Shendar, a leading Israeli Holocaust historian, furnishes the historical context necessary to understand the era that shaped Ginz's life and death.

The movie excels at not just recounting the life of Petr Ginz but also in highlighting the broader horrors faced by Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe. The film paints a vivid spectacle of Petr's life from the ripening of his talents at a young age to his tragic end in Auschwitz at age 16. Petr was known for his precocious abilities in writing and drawing. He authored five novels and penned countless stories, poems, and essays while also creating over 170 drawings and paintings, featuring complex themes and evoking emotions beyond his years.

Petr's love for the interplay of words is poignantly captured in The Last Flight of Petr Ginz. His diaries and other writings, a significant part of the story, simulate the urgency and depth of his experiences. He often depicted his phenomenal imagination through his works, which were remarkably mature for his age. His fascination for science fiction and outer space travel, inspired by the likes of Jules Verne, was a hopeful contrast to the grim realities that surrounded him.

The title of the documentary, The Last Flight of Petr Ginz, is a symbolic nod to one of Petr's most extraordinary works, a drawing of the Earth as seen from the moon, an astronaut's perspective that foretold humanity's lunar landing decades before it occurred, an escape perhaps from his somber real-world views. This aspirational drawing encapsulates not only the creative genius that was Petr Ginz but also the escapist desires that often mark the writings and reflections of those in unforgiving circumstances.

This documentary vividly brings to life the ghettos of Prague, where Petr spent the last couple of years of his life. It delves deep into the Theresienstadt, (also known as Terezin), a transit camp where Jewish people were held before being transported to extermination camps such as Auschwitz. Petr's role as the editor of Veďmi, a magazine — created in secret within the confines of the Theresienstadt — that encouraged intellectual resistance among young inmates, is celebrated in the film.

A standout feature of The Last Flight of Petr Ginz is how it bridges the past and present — shuttling between the monochrome visuals of documentary footage from the World War II era and the colorful vignettes of Petr's drawings and writings, set against the backdrop of modern music. The expressive animation derived from Petr's body of work adds a layer of visceral vibrancy to the storytelling, making his dreams and hopes tangible for the viewer.

As we navigate the narrative of the documentary, the atrocities of the Holocaust play out in the background, providing a somber, chilling backdrop. Yet, in the face of such oppressive darkness, Petr's spirit and creativity soared — a testament to the enduring human spirit that refuses to be snuffed out by circumstances.

The Last Flight of Petr Ginz is a stirring tribute to the remarkable talents and the memory of a young boy whose life, while tragically cut short, echoed with creativity, resilience, and an indomitable spirit. It's a testament to the world's loss — the potential and brilliance that was stripped away due to senseless hatred and fear. Petr Ginz, through the gentleness of his words and the vibrancy of his art, serves as an overwhelming reminder of the voices that were unjustly silenced during the Holocaust.