KASZTNER TRAIN: Rezs? Kasztner was able to save 1,600 lives during the Holocaust by negotiating directly with Nazi‘s. His story is told in the documentary "Killing Kasztner." (Courtesy of Izhak Weinberg)
It has been said that if Kasztner had not been Jewish, he would have been celebrated as a hero much like Oskar Schindler. Like Schindler, Kasztner dealt directly with the National Socialists as a leader of the Vaada, the Hungarian Aid and Rescue Committee. Every life rescued on Kasztner's train to Switzerland was purchased dearly through bribery. In fact, Kasztner was penniless when he and his family arrived in Israel at the end of the war.
Despite the many lives undeniably saved by Kasztner, the very idea of a Jew negotiating with high-level Nazis, including Adolph Eichmann, was difficult for many Israelis to accept.
Kasztner is clearly one of the most complex and intriguing historical figures of the last century. His killer, Ze’ev Eckstein, is not. However, Gaylen gives inordinate screen time to this banally evil figure. Granted, securing Eckstein’s first on-camera interview is a legitimate “get,” but he has little of interest to say. Frankly, his carefully chosen words, expressing guarded regret perhaps, but never actual remorse, quickly become tiresome. As a result, his face-to-face meeting with Kasztner’s daughter is completely unsatisfying for all involved.
In truth, Gaylen’s film is best when advocating on behalf of Kasztner’s legacy. She also got real results, prodding the director of Israel’s Holocaust museum Yad Vashem to recognize Kasztner, after a heated meeting with survivors of his rescue operation. Through this prism, Gaylen offers a revisionist perspective on an Israeli society she argues prefers dead heroes like Hannah Senesh, to living heroes like Kasztner. While such social criticism is not without interest, the film’s best moments illuminate the neglected story of Kasztner and his rescue efforts.
Using straightforward documentary techniques, Gaylen makes a very convincing case on behalf of Kasztner. One just wishes she had not spent so much time questioning Eckstein, the hostile witness. Still, Gaylen conveys a good sense of Kasztner the man, which is definitely important. As it is, “Killing Kasztner” offers a challenging look at an unfairly overlooked episode in history. It is currently playing at Cinema Village.
Joe Bendel blogs on jazz and cultural issues at jbspins.blogspot.com and coordinated the Jazz Foundation of America's instrument donation campaign for musicians displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
