DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC, THE (TV)
Summary
The made-for-television movie, based on Jane Yolen's young adult novel, tells the story of an apathetic teenage Jew who, while passed out during a Passover seder, imagines herself back in 1941 Poland during the Holocaust. The program opens with Dustin Hoffman discussing the rewards of being a parent and a producer of "The Devil's Arithmetic." The narrative opens with Hannah Stern, a pampered, middle-class high school student, at a tattoo parlor trying to figure out what design to get on her ankle. However, before she can decide, she begrudgingly leaves to go to her Aunt Eva's seder. At the gathering, Eva tells Hannah that she would like to share her concentration camp experiences, but knows Eva would be bored. Eva says that Hannah's reaction would "hurt" her. Walking through the house, Hannah talks with her older relatives who keep trying to bring up the Holocaust, all of whom are cut off by Hannah in mid-story. Then, the seder begins, with the prayers being recited and the rituals being observed, and Hannah reluctant to participate. The only thing Hannah seems to like about the holiday is that it allows her to guzzle wine. Soon, Hannah is "loaded" when Eva asks her to open the door to allow the entrance of Elijah the Prophet, a standard ritual. However, once Hannah opens the front door she is "transported" to 1940's Poland. There, a girl named Rivkah tells Hannah that her parents have been killed by "the fever." Rivkah and her mother Mina further explain their living conditions. Lying down in bed, Hannah feels that something is wrong. The next morning, when Hannah awakens, Rivkah prepares her for the wedding of her friends, Leah and Shmuel. Rivkah walks Hannah through their Polish ghetto heading toward the village.
Meanwhile, Shmuel anxiously prepares for his wedding. Later, Hannah meets Rivkah's friends Miriam and Esther and they talk about "moving pictures." Then, they attend the traditional unveiling of the bride, inspired by the story of Jacob. At the wedding, Rivkah tells Hannah about the ceremonial chuppah, a canopy under which the marriage takes place. Then, during the ceremony, Nazis march on the village, making Hannah finally realize that it is the beginning of the Holocaust. The Nazis inform the Polish Jews that they are all to be relocated and begin forcefully taking them away. Soon, the synagogue is ablaze as Rivkah and Hannah are put inside a transport. There, Hannah meets the rabbi's son, Ariel. Eventually, in the middle of the night, Hannah and the other Jews arrive at a concentration camp. There, they are manhandled and their valuables are taken away for "safekeeping." The women are stripped of their clothes, their hair is chopped off, they are ordered to dress in rags, and get numbers tattooed on their arms. That night, while the Nazis party, the Jews are crammed into a tiny sleeping room. The next day, Hannah and Rivkah try to eat their "food," with Hannah taking Sarah, a young parentless girl, under her wing. Later, they are sent to the field to dig ditches. Hannah speaks with Leah about her "beautiful" wedding. Meanwhile, one woman, Yetta, tries to hide the fact that she is pregnant. Later, during the rainy night, Hannah speaks with Ariel about how she doesn't even know where she came from any more. Then, Ariel asks Hannah on "a date." The next day, Commandant Krieger tells the Jews that the rabbi thinks typhus may be spreading in their camp. Many Jews are inspected and those suspected of infection are taken away. Later, Ariel learns that his mother and sisters were among those removed.
That night, Rivkah asks Hannah to tell her a story about the future. Hannah speaks about how some Jews will survive, eventually settling down to normal, safe lives in America. Though the Jews don't exactly believe Hannah, they enjoy listening to her imaginative tales of the future, as well as her rendition of "The Wizard of Oz." The next morning, Ariel is warned that Jews are being taken to the gas chamber. Later, Hannah asks Ariel to teach her how to pray before he gives her a special gift. Then, Rivkah tells Hannah that Ariel is planning an escape, jogging an old memory in Hannah. Hannah tries to recall what her Uncle Abe told her about the escape. Hannah goes to warn the rabbi that Ariel is being set up by a guard, Hans. That night, Ariel pays off Hans while Hannah tries to make sense of their current situation. The next day, Hannah tries to stop Ariel from going through with his plan, but he refuses to relent. That night, Yetta struggles in giving birth, while, at the same time, Ariel and some others attempt their escape. Ultimately, Yetta has a healthy daughter, while Ariel is captured and summarily beaten. The next day, Ariel and his fellow conspirators are hanged as those in the camp are forced to watch. Hannah is left distraught by Ariel's death, discussing her feelings with Rivkah. Rivkah claims that Hannah's stories are keeping them alive. Then, Krieger comes by, taking away Yetta and her baby, despite Rivkah's cries.
As Passover approaches, Hannah asks the rabbi if they can have a seder, but he thinks that is an impossibility. However, Hannah is able to secure some flour to prepare the matzoh. The guards consider shooting Hannah, but Rivkah is able to talk them out of it. Rivkah tells Hannah that they must fight to stay alive so that they may tell others what they have witnessed. That night, with the matzoh ready, an ailing Rivkah tells Hannah that she will take the name Eva if she should survive. Then, the Jews hold a secret seder, following all of their traditions. Finally, the seder reaches the point where the door is to be opened for Elijah, and, yet again, Hannah is chosen to do the honors, bringing Sarah along. However, when she opens the door she finds a furious Krieger. The next day, Krieger starts taking away Jews that can't be used for labor. Hannah worries that the sick, coughing Rivkah will be among those selected for the gas chamber. Hannah tricks the guards into taking her away instead. Once her group has been stripped naked, Hannah enters the chamber where Zyklon B is released on the screaming group. Then, Hannah wakes up, back in the present, surrounded by her family. Finally alone with Eva, Hannah mentions that she knows that Eva was once called Rivkah. Eva acknowledges her past, wondrous at how Hannah has obtained such knowledge. Now gathered again with the others around the table, Hannah joins in the festivities and vows that she will "remember always."
Details
- NETWORK: Showtime
- DATE: March 28, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:28:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58773
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Judaism; Teenagers; Holocaust
- SERIES RUN: Showtime - TV, 1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Chris Ciaffa … Executive Producer
- Jay Cohen … Executive Producer
- Mimi Rogers … Executive Producer
- Dustin Hoffman … Executive Producer
- Robert J. Avrech … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Murray Schisgal … Producer
- Lee Gottsegen … Producer
- Donna Deitch … Director
- Jane Yolen … Based upon the novel by
- Frederic Talgorn … Music by
- Kirsten Durst … Cast, Hannah Stern
- Brittany Murphy … Cast, Rivkah
- Paul Freeman … Cast, Rabbi
- Mimi Rogers … Cast, Lenore Stern
- Louise Fletcher … Cast, Aunt Eva
- Lilo Baur … Cast, Mina
- Nitzan Sharron … Cast, Ariel
- Shelly Skandrani … Cast, Leah
- Daniel Brocklebank … Cast, Shmuel
- Kirsty McFarland … Cast, Yetta
- Rachel Roddy … Cast, Esther
- Ieva Jackeviciute … Cast, Miriam
- Philip Rham … Cast, Commandant Krieger
- Daniel Rausch … Cast, Officer Steinbach
- Paulina Soloveicik … Cast, Sarah
- Stewart Bick … Cast, Burton Stern
- Rimantas Bagdzevicius … Cast, Photographer Mendel
- Lubomiras Laucevicius … Cast, Doctor Hauptman
- Sonata Paliukaityte … Cast, Gertrud
- Vaidotas Martinaitis … Cast, Hans
- Gabija Grusaite … Cast, Girl
- Dominika Lekaite … Cast, Girl
- Rugile Sablinskaite … Cast, Girl
- Laura Selmistraite … Cast, Girl
- Ingrid Tuminiene … Cast, Ingrid
- Nijole Narmontaite … Cast, Hedwig
- Saulius Siparis … Cast, Clumsy Guard
- Arvydas Dapsys … Cast, Efficient Guard
- Leonardas Pobedonoscevas … Cast, Isaac
- Mantas Vaitiekunas … Cast, Yossel
- Lina Avizienis … Cast, Dorrie
- Janina Matiekonyte … Cast, Sophie
- Vilija Ramanauskaite … Cast, Lily
- Robertas Urbonas … Cast, Recorder
- Andrius Zebrauskas … Cast, Recorder
- Algimantas Maceina … Cast, Guard
- Vitalis Gruodis … Cast, Old Man on Crutch
- Louis Negin … Cast, Uncle Morris
- Myra Fooden … Cast, Aunt Ethel
- Aron Tager … Cast, Uncle Abe
- Roselle Stone … Cast, Aunt Fanny
- Harve Sokoloff … Cast, Cousin David
- Hayley Hofbauer … Cast, Elana
- David Felton … Cast, Jeremy
- Abigail Plener … Cast, Leda
- Ava Fitch … Cast, Aliza
- Caterina Scorsone … Cast, Jessica
- Heather Bertram … Cast, Mary
- Ace Daniels … Cast, Tattoo Artist