‘Watermarks’ tells of swimmers with the passion to be the best
Yaron Zilberman arranged for the legendary Hakoah swimmers, now in their 80s, to have a reunion in their old swimming pool in Vienna. The athletes, who still swim daily, tell their own stories in “Watermarks,” a film directed by Zilberman.
B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation in Albany will screen “Watermarks,” the story of champion women swimmers of the legendary Vienna sports club, Hakoah, their survival, and their friendship.
“Watermarks” will be shown Saturday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. at B’nai Sholom at 420 Whitehall Road in Albany Refreshments will be available. Suggested contribution: $5.
Founded in 1909 in response to the notorious Aryan Paragraph, which forbade most Austrian sports clubs from accepting Jewish athletes, Hakoah rapidly grew into one of Europe’s biggest athletic organizations — and its women’s swim team virtually dominated national competitions in the 1930s.
“Watermarks” focuses on the stories of the club’s surviving members, while also faithfully recounting a period where prejudice and violence forced these brave women into exile. Sixty-five years after their escape from Austria, seven members of Hakoah’s female swim team reunited for the first time at their old Vienna swimming pool.
Told by the swimmers, then in their 80s, “Watermarks” is about a group of young girls with a passion to be the best.
Released in 2004, director Yaron Zilberman’s historical documentary garnered top awards at numerous international film festivals including Paris, Boston, Jerusalem, San Diego, and Berlin.
The 84-minute film is in English, German, and Hebrew with English subtitles.
For more information, visit www.bnaisholomalbany.org or contact the B’nai Sholom office by phone at 518-482-5283 or by email at office@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us.