Broadcast of SHTETL by PBS
September 10, 1996
The article reproduced here appears in the August 1996 issue of the
Polish American Journal by Edmund Rucinski, page 6:
"Shtetl's Romaniuk Visits Greenpoint, Sheds Additional Light
on Marzynski's Fictional Account"
In Greenpoint, N.Y., on June 7, 1996, Zbigniew Romaniuk was the
main speaker in a forum addressing issues raised by the PBS production
of SHTETL. Very interesting facts were brought to light about the
production. Within the discussion there was also presented an historical
overview of Jewish anti-Polonism, but that topic is beyond the scope
of this report.
Those of us in the Polish American community who bear the brunt
of Jewish anti-Polonism on a daily basis can understandably wonder
how Zbigniew Romaniuk could have allowed himself to be made party
to such a production as SHTETL. Judging from the comments made by
the audience members, most of whom were born in Poland, and their
astonishment at being branded as anti-Semites and Nazi collaborators,
it is totally possible that Mr. Romaniuk was unaware of the intense
anti-Polish hatred actively fostered by the Jewish establishment
in the United States.
Actually, the production proposal made by Marian Marzynski had
to do with documenting the rich and vibrant Jewish culture which
flourished in Poland prior to the Nazi invasion. Romaniuk quoted
Marzynski who in his proposal wished to avoid all references to
World War II, as saying that he wanted to make a film about life
rather than death.
Considering the way the Bransk village priest was mercilessly
lampooned by Marzynski, the most obscene aspect of the production
is the fact that the actual priest in Bransk at the time of the
Nazi Occupation was himself killed for sheltering Jews. Related
to this fact, the matter was brought up that every year the names
of 2,000 Polish priests and nuns, who were killed for sheltering
Jews, are presented to the administration of Yad Vashem for appropriate
commemoration; and every year the list is summarily rejected despite
irrefutable evidence that these individuals died because they protected
Jews.
Even the visual presentation of the town of Bransk is an absolute
fiction ! Very little of pre-World War II Bransk remains, so Maszynski
deliberately shot footage in three different towns in order to give
the feeling that Bransk is merely the dead shell of the wondrous
world of "Fiddler on the Roof" with streets lined with picturesque
cottages formerly occupied by Jews.
The actual fate of the Jews of Bransk is more fascinating than
any fiction that Marzynski et al, could concoct. During the war,
Romaniuk noted, Bransk and its environs were under Nazi Occupation
for a relatively brief period. Bransk was one of the earliest Soviet
conquests when they advanced westward. As soon as the Soviets arrived,
the Jews joined forces with them and imediately began to persecute
Poles. After the war, the 73 Jews who returned to Bransk literally
decimated the local population by denouncing Poles to the KGB and
the NKVD. Those hapless Poles who were not slaughtered on the spot
were sent to Siberia. Too late did the Jews of Bransk realize that
they had killed off the only available clientele for the goods and
services they were accustomed to providing. Many Bransk Jews turned
to criminal activity for their livelihoods. A number of Polish law
enforcement officers lost their lives trying to bring the Jewish
bandits of Bransk to justice. Criminal gang activity was described
as the underpinning of the violent incidents so extravagantly embellished
by Yaffa Eliach.
Considering that Marzynski's production costs for SHTETL were
$100,000, a proposal was made that Polonians should raise $100,000
and produce an accurate version of Bransk's World War II history.
According to Romaniuk, Marzynski received a $300,000 grant from
PBS to produce SHTETL ... and paid himself $200,000. The next time
a Polonian receives a fund raising request from PBS, they should
urge PBS to approach Marzynski for a donation and demand that PBS
provide Polish/Polonian teams of scholars and videographers with
appropriate financing to produce a truthful presentation of wartime
events in Bransk and give it equal public exposure." -- End of quoted
article.
Assuming that the information re monetary transaction is correct,
questions come to mind. PBS had a vested interest in the production
of SHTETL. PBS pushed for broadcast of a "documentary" having been informed
by numerous persons of serious questions respecting its veracity.
Webster's Dictionary defines "documentary" as: "adj.
1. consistent of, supported by, contained in, or serving as a document
or documents. 2. designating or of a motion picture that records news
events or shows social conditions without fictionalization. n. ... a
documentary motion picture."
Black's Law Dictionary defines "document" in part as:
" An instrument on which is recorded, by means of letters, figures,
or marks, the original, official, or legal form of something, which
may be evidentially used. In this sense the term applies to writings;
to words printed, lithographed, or photographed; ... As used as a verb,
to support with documentary evidence or authorities."
In the light of the above definitions, SHTETL falls flat. Is PBS
bound by ANY legal definition of "a documentary" ? Can the photographed
words of senile, old people, led by a professional with a vested interest
(Marian Marzynski) to present events of half a century ago, be sufficient
to support ANY definition of "a documentary" ?
Zbyszek Romaniuk also stated that the old Poles had no idea that
they were being filmed and were not paid, - but Marzynski was paid.
Isn't there a violation of Labor Laws here ? Polish laws ? Or American
laws since Marzynski, had some kind of a contract with PBS ? Was the
money for SHTETL collected from the public, - from "The Viewers Like
You" as is PBS's logo ? Or has some large corporation or law firm financed
SHTETL ? Was it intended at the onset to make a defamatory movie rather
than a documentary ? Would PBS or the financiers be liable for Labor
Law violations, - if any ? Has anyone written to the Federal Communications
Commission for some light on this subject ?
Did not Marzynski have to present his project to Polish authorities
and receive clearance ? If yes, who are they ? If not, isn't it high
time that such be established ? Are not Polish authorities obligated
to protect their citizens, - in this case senile old people, from abuse
? Are not Polish authorities obligated to protect the name and image
of Poland from abuse, - from POLISH nation libel ?
POLISH-AMERICAN PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Dana I. Alvi - Chairwoman, P. O. Box 3206, Tel & Fax 310 - 829 -1527
Santa Monica, CA. 90408, E-mail: PAPUREC@aol.com
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