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Aida’s Secrets

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Overview

In this moving documentary, the discovery of records from WWII sparks a family’s quest for answers as two brothers separated as babies reunite with each other and their elderly mother, who hid more from them than just each other.Izak Szewelwicz was born in the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp in 1945 and sent for adoption in Israel. Though Izak was able to form a relationship with his birth mother, his life was turned upside down years later when he located not only his birth certificate, but also another of a brother he never knew existed.Filmmakers Alon and Shaul Schwarz set out to find answers for Izak, uncovering questions of identity, resilience, and the plight of displaced persons as Izak and his brother Shep—both nearly 70 years old—finally meet in Canada before traveling to a nursing home in Quebec to introduce Shep to his elderly mother, Aida, for the first time.

Reactions, Awards & Festivals

Jury Prize Winner - Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Jury Prize Winner - Miami Jewish Film Festival

NYT Critics’ Pick. “Remarkable. A fascinating mystery.”

DANIEL M. GOLD

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Gripping, Intimate...”

SHERI LINDEN

LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Haunting. A fascinating portrait of a family that finds love after trauma. An unusual and moving story.”

HANNAH BROWN

JERUSALEM POST

“Spellbinding. A complex saga of secrets, lies and tearful reunions."

MARTIN KNELMAN

TORONTO STAR

“Powerful."

JEFFREY KLUGER

TIME

Cast & Crew
  • Himself : Izak Szewelewicz
  • Himself : Shep Shell
  • Herself : Aida Zasadsinska
  • Director : Alon Schwarz
  • Co-Director : Shaul Schwarz
  • Editor : Halil Efrat
  • Producer : Alon Schwarz
  • Cinematographer : Shaul Schwarz
Technical Info
  • Production Year : 2016
  • Release Date : 10/20/17
  • Countries of Production : Canada, Germany, USA, Israel
  • Languages : English, Hebrew
  • Running Time : 95 Minutes
  • Screen Ratio : 1.78:1
  • Sound : Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Color : Color
  • Rating : Not Rated
Theatrical Engagements
Theater Name
City
State
Date
New York
NY
10/20/2017
Los Angeles
CA
10/27/2017
Encino
CA
10/27/2017
Pasadena
CA
10/27/2017
Miami Beach
FL
10/27/2017
Boca Raton
FL
10/27/2017
Boca Raton
FL
10/27/2017
Delray
FL
10/27/2017
Lake Worth
FL
10/27/2017
Washington
DC
11/01/2017
Chicago
IL
11/10/2017
Tamarac
FL
11/10/2017
Hudson
NY
11/16/2017
Philadelphia
PA
11/24/2017
San Diego
CA
11/24/2017
Orlando
FL
12/01/2017
Scottsdale
AZ
12/01/2017
Stamford
CT
12/06/2017
Sandy Springs
GA
12/08/2017
Fort Myers
FL
12/08/2017
Jacksonville
FL
12/08/2017
Salt Lake City
UT
12/08/2017
San Francisco
CA
12/15/2017
Rafael
CA
12/15/2017
Wilmington
DE
12/22/2017
Modesto
CA
01/05/2018
Seattle
WA
01/10/2018
Cleveland
OH
01/26/2018
Tallahassee
FL
02/09/2018
Columbus
OH
01/27/2018
Hopewell
NJ
01/12/2018
Portsmouth
NH
02/03/2018
Larkspur
CA
06/01/2018
DVD/Blu-Ray Special Features

Director Audio Commentary

Filmmaker Q&A at New York JCC

Deleted Scenes

Family Archive Gallery