Together: A Story of Paris, Nazis, Jews and Muslims, based on True Events

When one considers what happened in Paris last week it is perhaps an opportune time to show this short film which is based on true events.  Together (Ensemble in French and directed by Mohamed Fekrane) is set in 1942 at the height of the Nazi occupation of France.

The round-ups of Jewish people has begun but one small child, Isaac, escapes them.  He seeks refuge in a place which, over sixty years later, might make one incredulous – the Paris Mosque.

There he comes under the protection of Si Kaddour Benghabrit, the Imam of the mosque, together with a number of other children.  Faced with a terrible predicament, the Imam and his community must choose between giving up the children to certain death or risking their own lives: the Nazis are hot on the trail of the missing children.

It has been estimated that Kaddour Benghabrit and his brethren saved between 600 and 1500 Jewish lives.  This, surely, and not the atrocities committed in Paris last week, shows the embodiment of Islam in its truest form.

Obama Not Impressed by Maroney

Meanwhile in the White House, President Barack Obama got to meet US Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney.  It seems he was not impressed as it were. You have to admit, McKayla has certainly turned things around.  The world initially looked on her as something of a spoiled brat when she pulled that infamous face at the London 2012 Olympics.  Having said that, most of us, having prepared for something for four years and then being disappointed in front of the whole world, may well have pulled worse faces (albeit when the cameras were off us!). It’s good to see that she can take a joke, again and again and again.

Typesetter Blues

This is dedicated to any of you who are feeling a little unlucky in love at the moment – it may cheer you up a little to know that Harold, the hero of the animated short above, is probably even more miserable than you.  Schadenfreude aside, this is a sweet but melancholy love story with monsters. Poor Harold, he just doesn’t seem to be a lucky guy at all!

Created by Together in partnership with Varipix, Typesetter Blues also features a voiceover by the legendary Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent. It is the first of what will be a series making up a silly rhyme collection, called Beastly Bards and is very much in the tradition of Edward Lear.  We look forward to seeing the next one!