Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh 

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Product Features

• Title: Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh
• Narration: Joan Allen
• Music: Todd Boekelheide
• Duration: 85 minutes
• Genre: Historical Documentary
• Languages: English (Audio)
• Release Date: 2008
• Rating: Not Rated
• Format: DVD, Region 1 (NTSC)
• Subtitles: English, Hebrew

Overview

Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh is a moving documentary that brings to light the heroic story of Hannah Senesh, a young Hungarian poet and World War II resistance fighter. At the age of 22, Senesh parachuted into Nazi-occupied Europe with the goal of saving Jews, including her fellow Hungarian Jews, from the horrors of the Holocaust. She was ultimately captured, imprisoned, and executed by the Nazis, but her courage and legacy endure through her poetry and writings.

This award-winning film, directed by Roberta Grossman and narrated by the acclaimed actress Joan Allen, draws on interviews, rare family photographs, and archival footage to present a deeply personal and historical account of Senesh's mission, her resistance to the Nazis, and her imprisonment. Through her diary entries and poetry, the documentary captures the life of a brave and talented woman coming of age during one of the darkest times in modern history.

In 1944, 22-year-old Hannah Senesh parachuted into Nazi-occupied Europe with a small group of Jewish volunteers from Palestine. Theirs was the only military rescue mission for Jews that occurred in World War II.

Narrated by Academy Award® winner Joan Allen, the multi-award-winning BLESSED IS THE MATCH follows the remarkable journey of this young Hungarian poet and diarist, paratrooper and resistance fighter. Told through Hannah s letters, diaries, and poems, her mother s memoirs, and the recollections of those who knew and loved her (including two of her fellow parachutists), the film traces her life from her childhood in Budapest to her time in British-controlled Palestine where she was drawn by the Kibbutz Movement that sought to build an independent Jewish state to her daring mission to rescue Jews in her native Hungary.

Both devastating and inspiring, BLESSED IS THE MATCH offers an intimate portrait of a singularly talented, courageous and complex girl who believed that one person could be a flame that burns brightly in even the darkest hours.

Interesting Facts

• Hannah Senesh: She was born in Hungary in 1921, emigrated to Palestine in 1939, and returned to Europe during the war as part of a daring mission to save Jews.
• Joan Allen's Narration: The documentary is narrated by Academy Award-nominated actress Joan Allen, known for her compelling voice and powerful performances.
• Rare Footage: The film features previously unseen family photographs and documents, shedding new light on Senesh’s personal life and mission.
• Her Writing Lives On: Hannah’s diary and poetry, written during her years of struggle and hope, continue to inspire readers worldwide. They are integral to understanding her inner world and resilience.
• Study Guide Available: A free educational guide from Facing History and Ourselves accompanies the film, offering further insight into Hannah Senesh’s historical context and significance.
• Film Accolades: The documentary has been highly praised by critics, with Time Out New York calling it "Inspiring!" and Variety labeling it "Engrossing!"

Publishers

• Katahdin Productions
• Women in Film (WIF)
• Facing History and Ourselves

Hashtags

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