How Saba Kept Singing Film Screening and Talkback

The award-winning documentary film, How Saba Kept Singing, shares the story of Cantor, Holocaust Survivor, and Military Veteran, David S. Wisnia (93), who spends his later years travelling with his grandson and musical accompanist, Avi Wisnia, sharing the story of how he survived the Holocaust through music which the duo perform together. For years, Cantor Wisnia’s story centered around the belief that he survived Auschwitz mainly by using his beautiful singing voice to entertain his Nazi captors. These performances in the death camp gave him status as a ”privileged prisoner.” However, when David takes his family back to Poland for one last performance, Avi starts asking questions and they discover that someone else had a hand in Saba’s survival. An uplifting story about music, faith, family and resilience, proving love can grow and take hold in even the darkest of places.

This film is directed by Sara Taksler (Tickling Giants) and executive produced by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.

David’s story became an international sensation when featured in the New York Times and Buzzfeed. The film How Saba Kept Singing premiered at the HotDocs Toronto International Documentary Festival and made its national TV debut on PBS last year. The documentary was recently honored with the Audience Award at the Rutgers Jewish Film Festival and nominated for an EMMY Award.