I saw the documentary "Watermarks" over the weekend. This is an excellent film about a reunion of 6 champion women swimmers (well, one was a diver) from the Jewish health club "Hakoah" in Nazi-era Austria. The individual story of each life is told, and they reunite at the stunningly beautiful natorium where they used to train. Of interest to this group is the story of Judith Haspel, who refused to go to the 1936 Olympics and as a result was stripped of all her medals by the Austrian Swimming body and banned from competition for life. Her medals were reinstated 60 years later.
The thing I really loved about the film was the way that it is a testimony on how to be old well. Two sisters (the Haspels) meet every day to drink Vermouth and read poems, another swims daily with her 91-year-old husband, and another has recently fallen in love.
My one disappointment with the film is that there is not enough footage of the pool they swam in. How can Donal replicate this for my backyard when I become ultra-rich? Guess he'll have to visit in person.
The first link is to a very good review, and the second to the rather bland description of the film. I urge anyone to see it or rent it if you get the chance.
I saw the documentary "Watermarks" over the weekend. This is an excellent film about a reunion of 6 champion women swimmers (well, one was a diver) from the Jewish health club "Hakoah" in Nazi-era Austria. The individual story of each life is told, and they reunite at the stunningly beautiful natorium where they used to train. Of interest to this group is the story of Judith Haspel, who refused to go to the 1936 Olympics and as a result was stripped of all her medals by the Austrian Swimming body and banned from competition for life. Her medals were reinstated 60 years later.
The thing I really loved about the film was the way that it is a testimony on how to be old well. Two sisters (the Haspels) meet every day to drink Vermouth and read poems, another swims daily with her 91-year-old husband, and another has recently fallen in love.
My one disappointment with the film is that there is not enough footage of the pool they swam in. How can Donal replicate this for my backyard when I become ultra-rich? Guess he'll have to visit in person.
The first link is to a very good review, and the second to the rather bland description of the film. I urge anyone to see it or rent it if you get the chance.
I saw the documentary "Watermarks" over the weekend.
Thanks, I'll look for it.
Quoted message said:
My one disappointment with the film is that there is not enough footage of the pool they swam in. How can Donal replicate this for my backyard when I become ultra-rich? Guess he'll have to visit in person.
I wouldn't replicate it, but I could be inspired. Last night I watched a semi- swimming movie: Warm Springs, which starred Kenneth Branagh as FDR coming to grips with his polio in the warm mineral waters of Georgia. The film implies that such experiences inspired his 'common touch' with the American people.
BTW, I'm celebrating my first half-century by watching Raid: The Sequel at the AFI Silver this weekend. Actor Kai Lehtinen and Director Tapio Piiranen are scheduled to appear.
I saw the documentary "Watermarks" over the weekend. This is an excellent film about a reunion of 6 champion women swimmers (well, one was a diver) from the Jewish health club "Hakoah" in Nazi-era Austria.
I put it on my list for my movie mail system. It went on Save because it hasn't been released yet.
