The Ship That Turned Back (2024)

Sometimes, remembering itself becomes an act of courage. In 1940, seven-year-old Irving Saraf and his family fled occupied Poland. Their journey takes them through Łódź, Warsaw, Vienna, and Trieste, in pursuit of their dream: reaching Palestine. But when Italy enters the war, their ship is forced to change course, and the passengers are taken captive until the British navy intervenes. The story is told through two voices—that of the adult Irving Saraf and his childhood alter ego—and is brought to life using archival footage, reenactments featuring his granddaughters, and animations based on children's drawings. This personal testimony unfolds into a universal tale of childhood, war, and the enduring strength of family memory.