The melodies of the past waft through 93-year-old Regina’s memories. She is a Holocaust survivor and the mother of Sonia. Together they look back, revitalizing their relationship and emboldening them to also look ahead. Accompanied by a music therapist, Regina sings Yiddish and French songs of her youth with her daughter Sonia at every session. The past they were so eager to forget, they are now anxious to remember. And while Regina’s memory is rapidly succumbing to dementia, the mother-daughter bond of melody and memory remains strong. 


When People Die They Sing Songs

Doc 47 min, 2014

Written and Directed by: Olga Lvoff
Produced by: DiploDocus LLC
Language: English with English and Russian subtitles

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$29.90

Synopsis


The melodies of the past waft through 93-year-old Regina’s memories. She is a Holocaust survivor and the mother of Sonia. Together they look back, revitalizing their relationship and emboldening them to also look ahead. Accompanied by a music therapist, Regina sings Yiddish and French songs of her youth with her daughter Sonia at every session. The past they were so eager to forget, they are now anxious to remember. And while Regina’s memory is rapidly succumbing to dementia, the mother-daughter bond of melody and memory remains strong. 


Awards

  • Local Forum for Peace and Human Rights Prize – Religion Today Film Festival, 2015
  • CINE Golden Eagle Award, USA
  • Bronze Winner- International Independent Film Award, USA

Festivals

  • Religion Today International Film Festival, Italy, 2015
  • Message to Man International Film Festival, Russia, 2015 – Official Selection
  • DOC NYC – Official Selection, USA, 2014
  • Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival, USA, 2014

Additional info

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Festivals

  • Religion Today International Film Festival, Italy, 2015
  • Message to Man International Film Festival, Russia, 2015 – Official Selection
  • DOC NYC – Official Selection, USA, 2014
  • Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival, USA, 2014

Educational

  • Arizona State University
  • US Holocaust Memorial & Museum
  • Harvard University
  • Yad VaShem Visual Center

Awards

  • Local Forum for Peace and Human Rights Prize – Religion Today Film Festival, 2015
  • CINE Golden Eagle Award, USA
  • Bronze Winner- International Independent Film Award, USA
  • Nomination for Student Oscar , USA
  • Alumni Scholarship Award School of Visual Arts