Jewish International Film Festival: Anton

Directed by Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated director Zaza Urushadze (Tangerines), Anton contrasts the simple and enduring qualities of childhood friendship to expose the cruelty of prejudicial adult ideologies. The story unfolds in 1919 in the wake of World War I and the Russian Revolution – a little-known historical period fashioned by political and ethnic upheaval and religious division. 

Revolution, revenge, fear, hope, hate and love all converge in a small Ukrainian village, a region settled by German farming families near the Black Sea. The story brings into clear focus the true meaning of friendship. Although young Anton is a German Catholic and Jakob, a Russian Jew, they find strong comfort together, proving more resilient than the forces of politics and revolution.

Their belief and trust in each other, and their imaginary world they create, shields them from the fear, violence and division that surrounds the countryside. Only are they separated when Anton’s family escapes from the Ukraine to seek a new life, the memory of their relationship endues through the decades, influencing their lives until they finally reunited as Anton nears death.  

Anton is screening at the Jewish International Film Festival and screening at Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick and Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn.

Jewish International Film Festival 
Till Sunday 25 April 2021
jiff.com.au