transcending
terror
One Refugee's Story of Hate, Forgiveness, & Transformation
“Transcending Terror” is a 15-minute documentary of loss, opportunity, and redemption: the remarkable story of Shimon Bert Schwarzchild, a German Jew forced to flee his country as Adolf Hitler rose to power in the 1930s, and his exceptional life thereafter in the United States as naval officer, renowned conservationist, educator, and writer-activist.
45 years ago Shimon's hometown of Wertheim became a catalyst for a profound healing, acknowledging their brutal history and inviting the surviving Jews scattered all over the world to return to honor their lives and stories. In this film, 94-year-old Shimon Schwarzschild shares his transformational journey, reflecting on how this return to his childhood home in 1976 allowed him to forgive his Hitler Youth classmates, heal decades-old wounds and resentment, and ultimately inspired him to champion humanitarian and environmental efforts around the globe.
45 years ago Shimon's hometown of Wertheim became a catalyst for a profound healing, acknowledging their brutal history and inviting the surviving Jews scattered all over the world to return to honor their lives and stories. In this film, 94-year-old Shimon Schwarzschild shares his transformational journey, reflecting on how this return to his childhood home in 1976 allowed him to forgive his Hitler Youth classmates, heal decades-old wounds and resentment, and ultimately inspired him to champion humanitarian and environmental efforts around the globe.
Thanks to your generosity, we have successfully completed the 15-minute documentary now featured at the Wertheim Museum in Germany. If you would like to contribute to the continuation of a full-length film chronicling Shimon's life, please click below.
As Hitler's venomous ideas gained traction within Germany, Shimon's life took a catastrophic turn. He lost his childhood friends and was vilified and beaten for being Jewish. Shimon and his family were ultimately forced to flee. His new life in the United States gave him the opportunity, over a lifetime, to transform his childhood characterized by terror and unforgiving hate into a life of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Shimon Schwarzschild’s initiative to document his incredible life story was inspired by a recent visit he made back to his birth town of Wertheim, Germany. He noticed that the Wertheim Museum -- home of picturesque Wertheim's history and art dating back to pre-Roman times -- had added a Jewish section to depict the life of its now non-existent Jewish community dating back to 1405 AD. While the museum’s display of artifacts from the once existing Jewish community was interesting, Shimon felt that a more dynamic display was needed to catch the attention of visitors, especially young people, who yearned to know about the terror that their forebears allowed or condoned in Wertheim and throughout Germany and Europe during the Nazi era.
Shimon decided to fill this void by developing his own video story. Drawing on a pre-existing video interview of his life under Hitler, recorded by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in December 2017, as well as film archives, family photos, contemporary interviews, and firsthand accounts of Wertheim residents who were instrumental in the reunion process, we get a glimpse, not only into this Nazi regime that must not be forgotten, but into one man's powerful experience of how he was able to transform all-consuming hate into forgiveness and peace.
“I believe those childhood experiences I had in Germany have made me more compassionate towards all individuals and species—and more sensitive to wrongs and acts of cruelty committed against them. They have inspired me to help improve the lives of others.”
We believe that this story of transcending terror through reflection, forgiveness, and transformation is extremely relevant today as refugees flee terror throughout the world. “My story,” Shimon reflects, “has similar elements that every refugee faces—and needs to deal with—to successfully move on. 'Transcending Terror' is therefore a story that any refugee can identify with.”
While the film's narration is in English, it will initially be produced with German subtitles for viewing by Wertheim Museum visitors. Because we believe that it is of utmost importance to have this documentary be accessible to people around the world, as its subject matter and story line is relevant for people everywhere, it is our hope to substitute the appropriate language subtitles for the documentary's release in various countries.
A Note on Wertheim Today
It is commendable that Wertheim has come to terms with its past. Determined never to repeat the horrific experience of past racial and religious discrimination that Shimon and so many others endured 80 years earlier, the town has made extraordinary efforts to reconcile with its former Jewish community whose few survivors are scattered round the world. Wertheim officials erected memorials, established grants, and financed travel for former Jewish Wertheimers who were invited to re-visit their home-town, Wertheim has also welcomed over 14,000 annual visitors to the Jewish Collection in its own Wertheim Museum, that showcases and commemorates the stories and histories of Wertheim's Jewish residents who were forced to flee their hometown decades ago.
Wertheim’s recent efforts to document the history of its Jewish residents, to acknowledge these wrongs, and to apologize for them, are a part of its genuine desire to heal. We are grateful and excited to be showcasing this documentary in Shimon’s hometown. Shimon is undeniably proud that Wertheim has become a living example of the transformative power of reconciliation and forgiveness.
Wertheim’s recent efforts to document the history of its Jewish residents, to acknowledge these wrongs, and to apologize for them, are a part of its genuine desire to heal. We are grateful and excited to be showcasing this documentary in Shimon’s hometown. Shimon is undeniably proud that Wertheim has become a living example of the transformative power of reconciliation and forgiveness.
The Team
Mark Coelho - Producer / Director / Writer
Mark Coelho has over 30-years experience as a writer, producer, director and set designer in the film and TV industries. Once Transcending Terror has been completed, Mark will begin pre-production on “All Aboard”, a scripted television series he has written based on the 30 year life and work experiences of a Newport Rhode Island transit bus driver, and commence post-production on “String Theory”: a series he has written, produced and directed about a trio of marionettes struggling to stay relevant in an increasingly digital world.
Mark’s career began in 1988 as a production designer for PBS’ “Reading Rainbow”. Other design and art direction credits include work on: The Jon Stewart Show (1993) Martha Stewart Living, Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" and The Montel Williams Show. He has also done extensive work for Saturday Night Live, AMC, MTV/VH-1 and Jim Henson Productions. Early in his career he also worked as a set dresser on Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway”, John McTiernan’s “Die Hard III” and Robert Redford’s “Quiz Show”.
Benjamin Schwarzschild - Video Editor / Cinatographer
Ben, a highly skilled videographer and editor, is the founder of Black Shield Entertainment™, a video production company that specializes in music videos and promotional spots for various brands and events. He has recently established a production presence in Los Angeles, CA for his company Black Shield Entertainment and its subsidiary, “Paws and Play Productions”, an entity dedicated to producing dog videos. Ben is also the grand-nephew of Shimon Schwarzschild and has been indispensable in procuring archival material and research on Shimon and the 500 year history of the Schwarzschilds in Germany.
Mark Coelho has over 30-years experience as a writer, producer, director and set designer in the film and TV industries. Once Transcending Terror has been completed, Mark will begin pre-production on “All Aboard”, a scripted television series he has written based on the 30 year life and work experiences of a Newport Rhode Island transit bus driver, and commence post-production on “String Theory”: a series he has written, produced and directed about a trio of marionettes struggling to stay relevant in an increasingly digital world.
Mark’s career began in 1988 as a production designer for PBS’ “Reading Rainbow”. Other design and art direction credits include work on: The Jon Stewart Show (1993) Martha Stewart Living, Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" and The Montel Williams Show. He has also done extensive work for Saturday Night Live, AMC, MTV/VH-1 and Jim Henson Productions. Early in his career he also worked as a set dresser on Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway”, John McTiernan’s “Die Hard III” and Robert Redford’s “Quiz Show”.
Benjamin Schwarzschild - Video Editor / Cinatographer
Ben, a highly skilled videographer and editor, is the founder of Black Shield Entertainment™, a video production company that specializes in music videos and promotional spots for various brands and events. He has recently established a production presence in Los Angeles, CA for his company Black Shield Entertainment and its subsidiary, “Paws and Play Productions”, an entity dedicated to producing dog videos. Ben is also the grand-nephew of Shimon Schwarzschild and has been indispensable in procuring archival material and research on Shimon and the 500 year history of the Schwarzschilds in Germany.
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