Four Winters: A Story of Jewish Partisan Resistance and Bravery in WWII

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Four Winters: A Story of Jewish Partisan Resistance and Bravery in WWII

Released Sep 16, 2022

1h 36m

Documentary

History

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83%

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6 Reviews

100%

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50+ Ratings

Deep within the forests of World War II Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the Ukraine, more than 25,000 Jews fought back against the Nazis and their collaborators. Many of these Jewish partisans had witnessed the murders of their families and friends before escaping into the forest. Often based in mere holes in the ground and armed with whatever weapons they could build, trade or steal, Jewish men and women organized and fought, against the better-trained and better-equipped war machine that Hitler was rolling across Eastern Europe. The Jewish Partisans executed tactical missions including blowing up trains, bridges, police stations, and telegraph lines. They carried out dangerous assignments, whenever possible carrying two grenades, one for their target and one for themselves in case of capture. By 1944, Jewish Partisan vigilance had made the forests so dangerous that Nazi soldiers were afraid to enter.

Nicolas Rapold

New York Times

“Four Winters” offers an enduring warning amid today’s global struggle with authoritarian forces: As one speaker explains, her neighbors were already antisemitic before the war, but with power, they became vicious.

Sep 15, 2022

Full Review

Zachary Goldkind

In Review Online

Four Winters is Julia Mintz’s attempt — one would assume — to create a cogent mosaic of this collective struggle. Unfortunately, the work is nothing but an exercise in reductionism.

Sep 30, 2022

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Nora Lee Mandel

Maven's Nest

Mintz does a great service in providing last testimony of Jewish partisans of the Holocaust, especially women. A key visual element are photographs that amazingly a woman partisan developed during the war. These testaments confront stereotypes of Jews.

Rated: 9/10

Sep 15, 2022

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Spellbinding, insightful and profoundly moving. It's one of the most powerful and vital documentaries of the year.

Sep 13, 2022

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Valerie Kalfrin

AWFJ.org

strikes a harrowing chord ... Four Winters is an absorbing and emotional testament to a little-known aspect of the Holocaust, and a much-appreciated record of resistance.

Sep 12, 2022

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Harvey S. Karten

Shockya.com

Demolishes the idea that Jews did not fight back against the Nazis.

Rated: B+

Sep 11, 2022

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Phillip K

Very well produced. Obvious that there was a lot of talent involved in producing this film. Wonderful historical record.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Kate L

amazing to hear the actual partisans tell their stories experiences feelings of what they went through as such young people during what we thought was a one off in world history but now we know humanity can repeat itself in horrible ways. historical documentary told by those actually there is a rare gift to have been captured

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

Full Review

Allison C

A heartbreaking and inspiring story. Highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Courtland C

Four Winters is a must see for anyone wanting to truly understand the resilience, fortitude and bravery of the Partisans. An incredibly moving piece of documentary film making.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Renee M

I loved this film! It is wonderful that the director Julia Mintz was able to capture the partisan's story so beautifully. I am glad their story of resistance will live on. Definitely see this film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Peter S

A remarkable film told solely through the voices of the Partisans – no narrators or historians on camera. An incredible tribute to those who fought back against the Nazis and their collaborators. I hope it will be shown in schools and on campuses everywhere.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

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Julia Mintz

Director

Julia Mintz

Screenwriter

Julia Mintz

Producer

Dan Sturman

Producer

Noël Raley

Producer

Peter Fine

Executive Producer

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Four Winters: A Story of Jewish Partisan Resistance and Bravery in WWII: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Deep within the forests of World War II Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the Ukraine, more than 25,000 Jews fought back against the Nazis and their collaborators. Many of these Jewish partisans had witnessed the murders of their families and friends before escaping into the forest. Often based in mere holes in the ground and armed with whatever weapons they could build, trade or steal, Jewish men and women organized and fought, against the better-trained and better-equipped war machine that Hitler was rolling across Eastern Europe. The Jewish Partisans executed tactical missions including blowing up trains, bridges, police stations, and telegraph lines. They carried out dangerous assignments, whenever possible carrying two grenades, one for their target and one for themselves in case of capture. By 1944, Jewish Partisan vigilance had made the forests so dangerous that Nazi soldiers were afraid to enter.

Director: Julia Mintz
Producer: Julia Mintz, Dan Sturman, Noël Raley
Screenwriter: Julia Mintz
Distributor: New Moon Films
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2022, Limited
Runtime: 1h 36m