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Product Description
Hannah Stern (Kirsten Dunst) is a teenager who travels back in time when she visits her Aunt Eva's for her holiday Passover celebration. Transported somehow from her Aunt's home she suddenly finds herself in a concentration camp in war-torn Poland, 1941. She is overwhelmed with the reality of her situation and the uncertainty of her fate. Hannah soon discovers she is to be put in the gas chamber. She prepares to meet with death and a sense of calm spreads over her. Then as she is close to the end Hannah awakens back in the present day at her Aunt's home. Due to her experience she now looks on the family gatherings and telling of war stories in a different light. Formerly relucatant to attend her family gatherings and listen to their stories of the past she now believes that the memories must be passsed on of these terrible times and not pushed aside as distant stories.
Product Description
Kirsten Dunst (Drop Dead Gorgeous; Get Over It; Spider-Man; Melancholia) is Hannah, a modern teenage girl who only grudgingly accepts the Jewish traditions.
One day when she is asked to "open the front door" as part of the Seder feast she finds she's travelled back in time to war-torn Poland in 1941, and is now actually living the life of a prisoner in one of the German death camps.
Co-starring, the late Brittany Murphy (Clueless; Girl, Interrupted), Mimi Rogers (Someone to Watch over Me; Full Body Massage; Ginger Snaps) & Oscar-winner Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), this is a very powerful and moving drama, perfectly acted by all.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The most forgivable thing about this movie is that it wisely focuses on the psychological elements of the camp experience, rather than shock and gore. Also the accents provide some unintentional hilarity. That aside ...
I'm not sure which camp it's supposed to be, but there's no kapos, no selections, regular contact between male and female prisoners, everyone has decent haircuts, and the children seem healthy, as opposed to dead. For some reason I have no problem suspending my disbelief at someone going back in time to 1940s Poland, but I'm struggling to get my head round all the female prisoners wearing makeup. At best it could be seen as a so-so attempt to introduce youngsters to the theme. At worst, it's a maddeningly simple minded, badly researched embarrassment of a film. Shame.
I'm not sure which camp it's supposed to be, but there's no kapos, no selections, regular contact between male and female prisoners, everyone has decent haircuts, and the children seem healthy, as opposed to dead. For some reason I have no problem suspending my disbelief at someone going back in time to 1940s Poland, but I'm struggling to get my head round all the female prisoners wearing makeup. At best it could be seen as a so-so attempt to introduce youngsters to the theme. At worst, it's a maddeningly simple minded, badly researched embarrassment of a film. Shame.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Aly's Way
Format:DVD
I watched this film at the weekend and found it quite emotional.
The story was really about this young jewish girl and why she should not turn her back on what her religion stands for and how her ancestors suffered at the hands of others.
The jewish people were persicuted during the holocaust and even though I'm no teenager and was not born at the said time of this event, I found it informative and very moving.
Kirsten played a great part but I think someone else couldv'e played it better (no disrespect) but that's my opinion. I think the ending could've been much better.
The story was really about this young jewish girl and why she should not turn her back on what her religion stands for and how her ancestors suffered at the hands of others.
The jewish people were persicuted during the holocaust and even though I'm no teenager and was not born at the said time of this event, I found it informative and very moving.
Kirsten played a great part but I think someone else couldv'e played it better (no disrespect) but that's my opinion. I think the ending could've been much better.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By maggie
Format:DVD
I think this film is for teenagers who are learning about the holocaust but it leaves many questions unanswered, not least being how did the 'time travel' occur? I don't want to spoil this film for potential viewers because some of it was interesting and of course heartbreaking. Despite having some very good actors I just could not believe in the characters. I have also read the book (after seeing the film) and again the fact that it is written for the younger adult does come through. Perhaps I'm too old and know too much about this black part of history but if I was young and wanting to know about the holocaust it would be a good place to start as youngsters would be able to identify with the main characters.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than I thought
I must admit, when I seen this advertised, I thought it would be a bit naff, however, if found it very moving, the young girls who showed not much respect for her religion or her... Read more
Published 4 months ago by kimbogeordie
3.0 out of 5 stars
Its watchable
I read some reviews previously in the year and was put off from buying this dvd. I thought let me gives the film a try despite the bad reviews, It was not half bad I do think that... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Leah Knight
5.0 out of 5 stars
DEVILS ARITHMETIC 1999
This film is great this film makes you want to watch it and not to turn off. kirsten dunst and Brittney murphy shows the world how to act. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Aaron
5.0 out of 5 stars
modern girl becomes auschwitz inmate
This film of Jane Yolen's book fills the gap which is often present in modern youth - what would it have been like if it was me in a nazi camp? Read more
Published on 19 May 2011 by martinwright
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down book
This book is on par with Anne Frank's Diary. It is moving, deep-thinking and gives you hope for future generations. This period in time should never be forgotten.
Published on 10 Sep 2010 by twinkle
5.0 out of 5 stars
If it makes you think!
If the movie makes you think then it can not be that bad. A lot of movies you watch are forgotten by the time you press the eject buttton on the dvd player. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2010 by Andy
5.0 out of 5 stars
just magic
what a fab film, you just couldnt imagine what you would do if that really happened to you ,a must watch for all.10/10, littlemsred
Published on 27 July 2010 by littlemsred
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Holocaust Window
A budget priced DVD which will appeal to the "time portal" sci fi types and the more serious interest in holocaust memories. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by Stanley A. Brook
5.0 out of 5 stars
Devil's Arithmetic
Very good, thought provoking film. Sad, at times brutal,but emotionally moving. I am intigued by anything to do with the Holocaust. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by Mrs. K. Winfindale
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Devil's Arithemtic
Totally different, Totally cool...The biggest difference between this and the others Holocaust movies is that this doesn't want to show you some freaky moments like the tons of... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2009 by Dan Škorpík
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