Vivacious young Helena Citron is taken from her home in Slovakia to Auschwitz on the very first women’s transport. She soon finds unlikely protection in the person of Franz Wunsch, a high-ranking SS officer who falls in love with her and her magnetic singing voice. Risking a certain execution if caught, their forbidden relationship went on until her miraculous liberation. But when a letter arrives 30 years later from Wunsch's daughter, begging Helena to testify on Wunsch's behalf, she's faced with an impossible decision: will she help the man who brutalized so many lives, but saved hers, along with some of the people closest to her? Awards: Best Israeli Film, DocAviv Screening Host: <a href="https://www.hadassah.org/area/midwest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/9971cdb8df09283717e5d18cd62e89a1.jpg"></a>

Love It Was Not

Director Maya Sarfaty discusses how Love It Was Not was made.

Interview with Maya Sarfaty

Director Maya Sarfaty discusses how Love It Was Not was made.

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Love It Was Not & Interview with Maya Sarfaty

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2024 - Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema

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Our 2024 Festival is hybrid (both IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL)!  This means if you purchase a HOUSEHOLD STREAMING Pass, or use your ALL-ACCESS Pass (for TWO!) for virtual presentations, or purchase individual STREAMING tickets, you can watch almost all of the Festival’s films any time from 6:00 am Friday, April 5, until 11:59 pm on Sunday April 14. Exception:  June Zero is not available for streaming. 

In its 17th year, the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema (CFIC) shows are Israel's most current internationally award-winning feature films, documentaries, shorts and TV series, with guest appearances by Israeli filmmakers.

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.