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In Stockholm, four extraordinary women gather each week around a bridge table—bound not just by friendship, but by survival. Eva, Elisabeth, Livia, and Mimi met as teenage girls in Auschwitz and found refuge together in Sweden more than 80 years ago. Now in their nineties, they remain vibrant, outspoken, and full of life—choosing to honor their past without being defined by it.
Each woman carries her own way of living with history: Eva divides her heart between her Swedish home and family in Israel; Elisabeth cherishes her bond with a granddaughter who represents continuity; Livia wrestles with her complex feelings toward Germany; and Mimi finds freedom in art and culture, always chasing her next film or theater performance. Their bridge games are far more than a pastime—they are a sanctuary, a celebration of resilience, and a living testament to friendship that has endured against all odds.
When Hamas’s October 7th attack jolts the present, images from Gaza stir memories these women have long kept contained. As past and present intertwine, their families rush to preserve their voices and their wisdom before time fades them from view. Through it all, the four friends offer something increasingly rare: a measured, humanistic perspective born from unimaginable suffering but sustained by an unshakeable zest for life.
The Bridgeplayers is an intimate and deeply moving portrait of survival that extends far beyond mere existence. With humor, candor, and grace, these four women remind us that to survive is one thing—but to truly live, to love, and to remain open to the world, even after unimaginable suffering, is the greatest act of all.
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Sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
- Year2025
- Runtime80 minutes
- LanguageSwedish, English, German
- CountrySweden, Germany, Israel
- PremiereNorth American Premiere
- DirectorAlberto Herskovits, Bengt Bok
- ScreenwriterAlberto Herskovits
- CastEva, Elisabeth, Livia, Mimi
- CinematographerAlberto Herskovits, Joshua Enblom
- EditorSascha Fülscher
If you would like to donate to support our efforts, you can do so by clicking here. You can also experience all the films streaming in the Festival's virtual program by purchasing an All-Access Virtual Pass by clicking here.
In Stockholm, four extraordinary women gather each week around a bridge table—bound not just by friendship, but by survival. Eva, Elisabeth, Livia, and Mimi met as teenage girls in Auschwitz and found refuge together in Sweden more than 80 years ago. Now in their nineties, they remain vibrant, outspoken, and full of life—choosing to honor their past without being defined by it.
Each woman carries her own way of living with history: Eva divides her heart between her Swedish home and family in Israel; Elisabeth cherishes her bond with a granddaughter who represents continuity; Livia wrestles with her complex feelings toward Germany; and Mimi finds freedom in art and culture, always chasing her next film or theater performance. Their bridge games are far more than a pastime—they are a sanctuary, a celebration of resilience, and a living testament to friendship that has endured against all odds.
When Hamas’s October 7th attack jolts the present, images from Gaza stir memories these women have long kept contained. As past and present intertwine, their families rush to preserve their voices and their wisdom before time fades them from view. Through it all, the four friends offer something increasingly rare: a measured, humanistic perspective born from unimaginable suffering but sustained by an unshakeable zest for life.
The Bridgeplayers is an intimate and deeply moving portrait of survival that extends far beyond mere existence. With humor, candor, and grace, these four women remind us that to survive is one thing—but to truly live, to love, and to remain open to the world, even after unimaginable suffering, is the greatest act of all.
────────────────────
Sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
- Year2025
- Runtime80 minutes
- LanguageSwedish, English, German
- CountrySweden, Germany, Israel
- PremiereNorth American Premiere
- DirectorAlberto Herskovits, Bengt Bok
- ScreenwriterAlberto Herskovits
- CastEva, Elisabeth, Livia, Mimi
- CinematographerAlberto Herskovits, Joshua Enblom
- EditorSascha Fülscher