The Devil's Arithmetic

This is a moving work of fiction about the Holocaust that is geared towards the middle school age reader but will hold the interest of even adults, such as myself. It tells the story of a thirteen year old girl from New Rochelle, NY who is at a family Passover Seder and bored by her grandfather’s rants about the Holocaust, which he personally experienced.While playing a game during the Seder, she suddenly finds herself pulled back in time to a shtetl in 1942 Poland, where she will discover for herself, firsthand, just what the Holocaust was like, as well of the meaning of the numbers tattooed on one’s arm. It is a voyage that will prove to be unforgettable , as well as instructive.Where Hannah’s voyage of discovery takes her, and what it will mean to her, will keep the reader turning the pages of this book. This book is a voyage of discovery for the reader, just as much as it is for its protagonist. Just enough information is provided to the young reader to give them a basic understanding of the horrors of the Holocaust and instill in them a desire to learn more.

Great movie

I read a lot of the other reviews, and I want to address some of those concerns. Also, I would like to point out that when talking about the Holocaust, it's capitalized.1. No, the film doesn't follow the book exactly, but they are both good. If you go into it with the idea of a 100% play by play, you're not going to be happy. But if you go into it as a film, it's great.2. I like the acting. (I studied as a film actress at The New York Film Academy, so I do have some experience) But to each his own.3. People are mad they didn't show every aspect of the Holocaust. Outside of a documentary, no film does. This isn't a film about the work camps, or ghettos, or living under German law before the camps. It's a specific view of this one Jewish girls experience, from one place, showing one camp.4. No, they didn't focus on other prisoners outside of Jewish ones. They were depicted, you can see the other badges, but it's not their story. This is a YA film about a Jewish girl in the Holocaust. They focused on the Jewish girl and her Jewish bunkmates. They aren't saying no one else was targeted, they just focus this Jewish novel turned Jewish movie by Jewish author on a story whose entire theme is "Never Forget" and connecting to your Jewish heritage, history, and traditions. If you want a film that tells the story of gay or gypsy prisoners, this isn't that film. But it in no way diminishes anyone else's story, or pretends no one else was there.POSSIBLE SPOILER!!!5. People say it's unrealistic or historically inaccurate. I disagree. Did they show EVERY tragedy? No. But we have to remember, this is a young adult film. They aren't detecting the rape, or showing the beatings, but it is still graphic. They talk about seeing then men getting beaten. We see them hang men, not by breaking their necks, but slowly. They didn't show specific torture, but they did depict the horrors that living there was like. There is only so much they can show in a YA film. It's still graphic and dark, not a great film for a 6 year old, but it isn't any Men Behind the Sun series.Overall, I love the film and the novel. It is wonderfully made and beautifully told. It's dark and graphic, but it needs to be, it's about the Holocaust. It's powerful and well told. I highly recommend it.

Jane Yolen's "The Devil's Arithmetic" is a classroom fixture and a benchmark in young adult literature for its vivid yet sensitive portrayal of the Holocaust. In this Showtime made-for-TV adaptation, introduced and produced by Dustin Hoffman (himself from a family of Polish Jews), the novel is brought to life in a way that shows younger viewers the horrors of the Holocaust without being overtly gory.Modern teenager Hannah Stern resents being made to participate in her Aunt Eva's Passover celebrations, feeling no attachment to her religion. As her relatives, all concentration camp survivors, try to recount their experiences, Hannah turns away, bored. All of this changes as Hannah is chosen to perform the ritual act of opening the door for the Prophet Elijah--instead of the hallway of her aunt's apartment, Hannah is transported to rural Jewish Poland, circa 1941.Hannah attempts to make sense of her old life, and the girl her new Polish "family" expects her to be. As time passes, more and more of her old life becomes a dream. Hannah and her cousin Rivkah explore the town before attending a wedding, at which point Nazis round up the wedding guests and load them onto trucks.The remainder of the film focuses on the day-to-day struggle to live in the concentration camp in powerful moments of stolen identities: the grim shearing of hair, the painful tattoos of blue numbers, the bitter cold and backbreaking labour. Although this is a children's film, there are plenty of grim realities: the beating and hanging of several men who attempt to escape, women suffocating in a gas chamber.Several previous reviewers have mentioned inaccuracies (swing music, banned by Hitler in 1938, is played in a lounge), but despite the small flaws, for a low-budget film, it captures the drama and power of the original novel. Much of the original plot has been changed, mostly for the better, but readers may find some transitions confusing.The film's acting, cinematography, costumes, and sound editing are all top-notch. There are moments of quiet beauty, of love that transcends time, of the will to survive against the odds. Kirsten Dunst gives a stunning performance as a spoiled teen that learns the meaning of ultimate sacrifice, cherishing her heritage and religion when confronted with the horrors of the Holocaust. An excellent companion to the novel, and a good introduction to the Holocaust for young teens.

Watched this movie last night and I was quite surprised at how good it was.Story of a jewish girl who is somewhat 'bored' by the whole Holocaust stories from her family and at a gathering one evening is asked to take part in a procedure at dinner---she does reluctantly and finds herself transported back to a small village in 1941 just as the Nazi war machine arrives. Taken to a camp,she and her cousin and the other village inhabitants begin to experience exactly what her 'modern day family' have been telling her.You can see a few holes in the film such as a] I have never seen a camp portrayed with so few people in it b]I didn't think the male and female prisoners were allowed to mix quite as freely-if at all- and c]why did no-one ever question Kirsten Dunsts' American accent? [or if they did I missed it --sorry] I think there would have been a lot more cruelty,but it may not have been to any great advantage in this film.I do think it was a cleverly thought out film and of course showed in some small amount the horrors that were taking place.This was not portrayed as a Death Camp,as such I don't believe and there were no Crematoria that I saw----BUT not every camp had those capabilities---instead the poor people were just worked and starved to death.I know the end scene in the camp portrayed one of these too-familiar capabilities.The film worked for me because it was just - different.One of the not-so-good things about it was the dreadful accent of the Commandant----he spoke with what I would term an 'expected' accent and not all Germans speak in that way when they speak English[sorry but that did raise a smile]. Some good performances from the leading actors.I would. recommend this film

As I'm researching this period of history for a non-fiction novel, I'm reading and watching a lot of material about the Holocaust. This film is AWFUL. Ridiculous story line, (even if you suspend belief about time travel - something I don't think appropriate for this period of history), APPALLING acting, and unrealistic setting detail (sound, visuals, detail) for a death camp. Wish I hadn't wasted my money. Am amazed this film got so many positive ratings. Can only be from people who really don't know about this period of history. Emotional? The only two emotions I felt were cringiness and boredom.

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.

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? Present day life is so far removed from this historic period that it's hard to imagine what it would have been like - and this surfaces in many (very funny) conversations between the girls from the past and the modern girl transported by some magic to the auschwitz death camp. In the camp the harsh reality of racial intolerance is dramatically experienced and ends with ... well, best not to spoil it! After seeing the film I'd recommend reading the book which has several aspects not in the film and is, in my opinion, even better.

Excellent moving film. Makes a young trendy American realise the pain and suffering her family went through in war torn Poland. Hannah had no time to hear the stories from the past. After a Jewish festival she opens the door to Elijah, to find she's back in 1940s Poland. Here she realises the horrors of war. The tattoo she wanted in the start of the film?? She is now forced to have one through pain. "Is it better to know or not know???" For Hannah , knowing what's to come in the concentration camp is too much. She keeps hope alive with her "stories" of a new life in America ,of pizza and movies and a free life. A brilliant twist at the end. This will move you. As one man shouted who Was being hauled off to the gas chambers "never let them Forget us!!!!"