A Pocketful of Miracles

Southeast US Premiere

Embarking on an extraordinary journey, award-winning filmmaker Aviva Kempner (The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg and Yoo-hoo Mrs. Goldberg) delves into the captivating chronicles of her own family for the first time. Kempner’s mother Hanka (Helen Ciesla Covensky) and her uncle Dudek (David Chase) Ciesla enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Sosnowiec, Poland, until the Nazi invasion and their separation. This audience award-winning film tells of their harrowing experiences during the Holocaust, their against-the-odds reunion, and their recommitment to life and to each other in the DP camps — a testament to the unbreakable bonds of family.

Harold Kempner, a Lithuanian-born Jewish émigré turned US Army journalist, makes a dramatic post-war entry in the narrative, and the romance between Harold and Helen unfolds like a Hollywood love story set against the rubble of 1945 Berlin. Ten months later, our future documentarian Aviva was born and declared the "first Jewish-American born in Berlin." After immigrating to the US, Helen and David remained close, and both elected never to tell their children about their wartime experiences. Only now are their stories being told.

Aviva Kempner's heartfelt film not only preserves the past but also celebrates the vibrant lives that arose from its ashes. It's a rollercoaster of emotion, an authentic tribute to the human spirit's capacity to endure and soar, even in the face of the darkest adversities.

The special premiere event will feature director Aviva Kempner in attendance to introduce the film and participate in a Q&A afterward.