The story of how the residents of a little village in World War II-era Vichy France harbored 400 Jewish refugee children from the Nazis already seems tailor-made for the big screen. But documentary filmmaker Lisa Gossels had the real inside story: Her father and uncle were among the children given refuge in an orphanage by the citizens of Chabannes. Her 1999 film The Children of Chabannes, made with co-director Dean Wetherell, relives the story through the eyes of her own family members and other people who were there.
Gossels, an Emmy Award-winner, will appear in person tonight to answer questions after a 7 p.m. screening hosted by the Mizel Museum of Judaica at the Tivoli Turnhalle, Tivoli Student Union, 900 Auraria Parkway. In conjunction with the annual the Miryam Brand Holocaust Film Project, the articulate Gossels will also speak to local middle and high school students tomorrow at George Washington High School. But this a chance for the rest of us to experience her visual storytelling for ourselves.
Admission tonight is $12 (and free for Auraria students); for reservations call 303-394-9993, ext. 103. Get more information by logging on to the Mizel Museum website.
For more ways to rock the night and kill the day, go to westword.com/calendar.
