LOOK TO THE SKY (DVD/WS/DD 5.1/DOLBY 2.0 STEREO)

• Specifications
• Product Reviews
• Similar Products
• ANTOnline Reviews

Product Description

The newly re-mastered and restored World War II drama (formerly titled JONA CHE VISSE NELLA BALENA (1993)) comes for the first time to North America on DVD!

Based loosely on the book Childhood by Jona Oberski, LOOK TO THE SKY depicts a hope-filled view of the Holocaust from the perspective of a young Dutch boy, Jonah.

His story begins when German soldiers, speaking a language unknown to four-year-old Jonah, seize the boy along with his parents from their home in Amsterdam and escort them to a village in the Dutch countryside, and then to a transit camp.

Oblivious to the portentous events unfolding around him, the youngster clings to his parents' love and his memories of the past. This enables him not only to face the sufferings that will soon be inflicted upon him, but also, to observe with a certain equanimity, even humor, the details of his strange, new life.

Jonah sees -- and remembers -- everything very clearly. And not only the hardships and the horrors, but also the acts of kindness and moments of poetry, for example, his parents, forced to conclude their last act of love in the same room as their son... the camp cook, who drops him headfirst into a pot... and the elderly couple who almost despair of saving him, but finally see a way.

What Jonah sees and recalls most clearly, however, is his own struggle to survive -- his efforts to emerge alive from the belly of the beast that has swallowed him and the whole world. And despite everything, Jonah does survive -- battered, but not broken.

The picture has won three David di Donatello Awards (the Italian Oscar®): Best Costume Design, Best Director for Roberto Faenza, and Best Score for the venerable Ennio Morricone.

• Actors: Jean-Hugues Anglade, Francesca de Sapio, Djoko Rosic, Juliet Aubrey, Luke Petterson
• Director: Roberto Faenza
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Widescreen
• Language (Original Language): English
• Region Code: 1
• Release Date: 2007-07-10
• Running Time: 100 minutes
• Theatrical Release Date: 1993

Customer Reviews

Reviewed on 2007-12-31 'Look to the sky, and never ever hate' LOOK TO THE SKY ('Jona che visse nella balena') is a little marvel of a film, one that stays with the viewer long after the credits are completed. Originally made in 1993 in Italy from a story by Hugh Fleetwood and Roberto Faenza (who also directs), this honored film re-visits the Holocaust but almost entirely through a child's eyes. The complicity between the youthful innocence and the unspeakable reality results in a story, rendered by a superb cast, that shares an entirely different light on the effect of the Nazi 'Jewish Solution'. Jonah at five years old (New Zealander Luke Petterson who was indeed age 5 when the movie was made) in 1942 lives in Amsterdam with his loving mother (Juliet Aubrey) and father (Jean-Hugues Anglade) in a family situation that is filled with love and optimism. Into this setting advance the Nazi occupiers, brand all of the Jews with yellow stars and gradually sequester them, making life crowded and difficult. Jonah narrates all of the action and his viewpoint is untainted by the reality of what is happening. His family is finally removed from their home and transported to a Dutch village where Jonah is told they will all be headed for Palestine soon. But instead of Palestine the intact family is transported to a concentration camp where Jonah and his mother are separated from his father. Jonah watches as his mother is in forced labor and makes friends with other children as best he can, even winning a place in the kitchen for food secretly delivered by the camp cook. Jonah ages to 8 years (Jenner Del Vecchio) and though frail he is able to exist under the protection and feigned optimism of his mother who repeatedly advises Jonah that whenever the world seems bad, 'look to the sky and never ever hate'. Jonah's father is allowed to see his family for a stolen moment, a time when the father and mother attempt to hide their anguish in a moment of passion, a moment Jonah witnesses. Soon after, his father dies and eventually his mother dies at the moment when the Allied Forces are freeing the prisoners. Jonah is returned to Amsterdam where he is taken in by friends of the family and how he deals with his memories so firmly embedded in his mind and manages to go on living is the tender ending to the story. The 5-year-old Luke Petterson is a wonder as Jonah, managing to create a credible character almost entirely by facial expressions (his lines are minimal). And Aubrey and Anglade are superb as is the young Jenner Del Vecchio and the rest of the supporting cast. The film is in English, Yiddish, and German but is without subtitles - a factor that actually enhances the story as Jonah does not understand the words of the Nazis, only their actions, and that places the audience in a compatible mindset with the child. The cinematography by János Kende captures the essence of beauty of Amsterdam as well as the horrors of the concentration camp and the award-winning score by Ennio Morricone is one of this master's finest. Few films dealing with the Holocaust are as moving as this. It is a must see for all viewers. Grady Harp, December 07

Reviewed on 2007-07-23 An Amazing Performance "Look to the Sky" An Amazing Performance Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride Picture This Entertainment is releasing the World War II drama "Look to the Sky" in a newly remastered and restored format. It was originally made in 1993 and will now be available for the first time on DVD in the United State. "Look to the Sky" is loosely based on the book "Childhood" by Jona Oberski and is the story dealing with the Holocaust from an extremely hopeful perspective. A young Dutch boy, Jonah, is forced to spend most of his childhood behind the walls of a Nazi concentration camp where he struggles daily to remember his parents and their love. He also attempts to get along with others in the camp. Jonah's own strength allows him to grow up and survive the ordeal. This is simply a beautiful movie dealing with a horrible subject and it is a tribute to those that perished at the hands of the Nazis. Jonah is taken away by Nazi soldiers when he was four years old. He and his parents were moved from their home in Amsterdam to a small Dutch countryside village and ultimately to a camp. Jonah, unaware of what is going on around him holds on tightly to his parents and depends upon the memories of his past to get hen through the horror. This way he is able to face the terrible things that are soon to happen and he can observe life with a different outlook. He does sense that his life will never be the same. Jonah's memory is incredible. He sees and remembers everything very clearly. He faces hardships and unbelievable horrors but there are also beautiful acts of kindness. What he sees most of all is his own struggle to survive. He is determined to leave this all behind him and he does survive, badly bruised but alive. I must make mention of the actor who plays young Jonah--Luke Patterson. There is not a word to describe the depth and breadth of his performance. Without actually speaking a great deal (he has few lines), he grunts and moans are gives us an actor that we should feel that we are honored to watch him. His timing and facial expressions are absolutely amazing. He manages to capture the mood and emotion of a young person who is faced with racial discrimination without knowing why and he delivers the entire gamut of human life which appears to be written across his face. Like other movies dealing with this dark era of human history this movie is depressing. But it is also uplifting to see the triumph of the human spirit and the feeling that I had when the movie was over is impossible to describe.

Similar Products

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL-GIFT OF LOVE (DVD) $4.44 Two Inspirational Short Films; Based on the Best Selling Books; With 100 million copies sold, 120 titles and 39 languages, Chicken Soup for the Soul has made international publishing history; 85% of ...

HOUSE OF ELIOTT: SERIES ONE (4PC) - HOUSE OF ELIOTT: SERIES ONE (4PC) $42.70 From the creators of Upstairs, Downstairs (Jean Marsh, Eileen Atkins) comes an addictive drama series set in the era of flappers and suffragettes. Louise Lombard (Hidalgo, CSI) and Stella Gonet (Nich...

EDMOND (DVD) (WS/ENG/R) $19.14 A man (Macy) becomes involved in a twisted game of sex, lies and murder with 3 young women (Denise Richards, Mena Suvari, Julia Stiles). It's a first rate thriller from the legendary David Mamet. Act...