Searching for Edek – a Film Project

Klara Jackl / English translation: Andrew Rajcher, 23 November 2018
“Edek” is an extraordinary film project in which a Jewish Holocaust survivor from Lwów meets a young American rapper. Together, through historical narrative and rap, they create a message for young people. The title “Edek” is the only name known for a young man who, during the War, helped Jews in Lwów. The creators of the film hope that, through its screening, they will be identify who Edek really was.

As part of the Edek film project, Janina Webber from Lwów, now 86 years old, tells the story of her survival from the Holocaust. After being in the Lwów ghetto and having lost her immediate family, together with her aunt and uncle, she was helped by Edek, a friend of her aunt's. Active in the underground, he hid them and eleven other people on the Persenkówka estate, where he worked, in suburban Lwów. After a time, Janina, equipped with false papers, lived in a Kraków convent, where she survived until the end of the War. More about her and her family can be found on the Edek film project website.

The film's creators are trying to obtain more information about the film's hero. So far, it has been established that Edek, together with his brother Kazik, worked as night guards with the nuns in Persenkówka, in suburban Lwów. Following the end of the War, according to Janina's uncle, Edek studied theology in Kraków. Perhaps, he became a priest.

Apart from Janina, the film also features the young rapper Kapoo. As he says, he treats his participation in the film as an opportunity to find new forms of artistic expression which his young audience will find interesting and understandable.

The creator of the film is Malcolm Green and was carried out by NHC Arts & Green Cave People, with the support of the UK National Holocaust Centre and Museum.

Edek will screen on 17th November 2018 at POLIN Museum as part of the 16th Jewsh Film Festival. The film is also available online.