JCC Rockland 21st International Jewish Film Festival

Syndrome K & Syndrome K Interview

Expired May 7, 2021 3:59 AM
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It might just be the only disease to have ever actually saved lives. And it didn’t really exist.

Syndrome K is a feature documentary in production that tells the story of three courageous Roman Catholic doctors who saved Jews by convincing the Nazis that these Jews were infected with a highly deadly and contagious disease that the doctors called Syndrome K.

After Mussolini was removed, and Italy signed an Armistice with the Allies, the Nazis became infuriated, and they occupied Rome. The occupying Nazis deported over 1,000 Jews to Auschwitz from the Jewish Ghetto in Rome in October 1943 and most never returned. Many Jews sought refuge in Fatebenefratelli hospital where the three doctors invented the disease to protect them.

Dr. Ossicini was interviewed for this film as were survivors. The footage amassed by the filmmaker and from archives is chilling and the heroism is pronounced. 

It is a story that needs to be told.


Film Sponsors: Eye Physicians of Orange County, P,C.; Jules Stern, in Memory of Lila Stern; Anita Finkelstein & Morton Julius

  • Year
    2019
  • Runtime
    80 minutes
  • Language
    Italian
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Stephen Edwards