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List Price: $24.98 | | Label: KOCH LORBER FILMS
Salesrank: 77104
Released: September 9, 2003 |
| Our Price: $69.95 |
| Used Price: $68.48 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
This Academy Award winning documentary explores the critical post World War II period from 1945 - 1948 and the plight of tens of thousands of refugees who survived the Nazi Holocaust and their often-illegal attempts to get to the Jewsih homeland. It explores how the world turned its back on these forgotten people and the world events that led to the creation of the State of Israel. The Long Way Home is narrated by Morgan Freeman and features the voices of Edward Asner, Sean Astin, Martin Landau, Miriam Margoyles, David Paymer and Nina Siemaszko.
Description of The Long Way Home:
As Allied troops liberated Nazi concentration camps in the final weeks of World War II, the trials of the Jews in Europe were hardly over. The end of the war brought extreme deprivation and even, in some places, further violence directed against survivors of the Holocaust. This documentary tells the story of the struggle European Jews faced in trying to reach Palestine, which they hoped would become the new Jewish homeland. Archival footage documents how Jews literally walked across snow-clogged mountain passes to reach the Mediterranean. In Italian ports they boarded overcrowded freighters and tried to slip past the blockage of Palestine, which was then controlled by Britain. The physical hardships were only part of the problem, and The Long Way Home does a fine job of describing the complicated political dealings that involved the United Nations, the U.S. administration of Harry Truman, and, of course, the Arab states that were hostile to the very idea of the country of Israel. Drawing on letters, diaries, and oral histories of participants, as well as interviews with Holocaust survivors and those who volunteered to help the fledgling Zionist state, an inspiring human story of courage and fortitude emerges in the course of this moving and fascinating film. --Robert J. McNamara
The Long Way Home Reviews:
Insightful documentary on post-liberation period to the birth of Israel 
2009-10-29 - Though I've watched numerous documentaries and feature films dealing with the Holocaust, I have not seen many about the post-liberation period, and "The Long Way Home" proved to be a compelling watch. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1997, "The Long Way Home" traces the journey of survivors of the Holocaust in the post-liberation period in 1945 till the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. Morgan Freeman is the main narrator and does an excellent job in stirring one's emotions though this painful, arduous and epic journey. There are other narrators that convey the feelings and experiences of the various survivors, and testimonies by actual survivors such as Israel Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel at the time.
Throughout the documentary, there are countless archival footage of events such as the discovery of the death camps by the liberating forces, the torment of the survivors as they discover how many of their family members have been decimated, and the long process towards finding a real home of their own in Eretz Israel, which was not smooth sailing, but fraught with obstacles. This documentary would make a great teaching tool for high school and college students, and runs about 2 hours. A historically relevant and compelling watch.
Clear and thorough 
2009-01-28 - This Academy Award winning documentary traces the events between the end of the war in Europe, in spring of 1945, to the declaration of Israel's statehood in May 1948, revealing the continuing harrowing experiences of the concentration camp survivors, who had neither homes nor families to which they could return and were prevented from going to the land of Israel. The excellent narration by Morgan Freeman and the cast of readers supplements the interviews and graphic pictorals. Highly recommended.
After the happy ending
2008-05-18 - Much has been said of the Holocaust, but these stories usually end with the liberation of the Jews from the concentration camps. This remarkable documentary fills in the missing piece between this period and the creation of the state of Israel. It was an excruciatingly difficult transition. From the concentration camps, the Jews went to displaced persons camp because they could not return to their old ways of life. These camps were scarcely an improvement. As one survivor states, "The Nazis killed us, but the Allies do not let us live." Anti-Semitic feelings remained strong among the people of surrounding countries as well as the ranks of the Allies themselves. The Jews began to work toward a homeland and many survivors made the difficult journey to Palestine, only to be blocked by the British, who still administrated that land in these final years of their colonial empire, and sent to still other camps on the island of Cyprus. The film also covers the debate in the United Nations concerning Israel, the strong support from U.S. President Harry Truman despite ambivalence among his Cabinet, and the opposition of the Arabs.
Featuring incredible archival footage, fascinating interviews, and skilled actors performing the testimonies of eyewitnesses, this important film casts light on a period of world history that is often glossed over.
Historial moving.
2008-03-07 - This video covers the period of the Jewish people in Europe from 1945 to the creation of the State of Israel. Its a moving story that few people are familiar with. It tells the story how the Jewish people after surviving the hell of the holocaust were forced to fight against the British for entry into their own homeland. I highly recommend this film.
A long sad story
2006-08-19 - A good documentary on the period between the end of WWII and the formation of the tiny nation of Israel. No need to see feature films for drama, it is all here.
I tend to think that once WWII ended then all was well with the Jews and the other displaced persons in Europe. But that is far from the truth as this movie will show.
There is some great footage of the Exodus.
This movie is required viewing for my children of 12 and up.
