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| Missing Harry: A Film by Shira Lavy-Vittis |
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Missing Harry,
a documentary by filmmaker Shira Lavy-Vittis, is a 20 minute
documentary film about the life story of Lavy-Vittis' maternal
grandmother, Hannah Lefkowitz. Lefkowitz, a single mother in the early
days of the Jewish State, raised her daughter on Kibbutz
Shefayim. The film gives insight into Lefkowitz's decisions and how she
came to terms with her unconventional lifestyle.
Together with her grandmother, Lefkowitz immigrated to Palestine in 1933 when she was 13 years old. As a resident of Palestine under British rule, in 1942 Lefkowitz worked as a nurse for the British Army in Egypt. It was there that she met her lover Harry Fitzsimmons, a wounded British soldier. After learning that she was pregnant, Lefkowitz returned to Palestine and Fitzsimmons returned to his native England. Lefkowitz moved to Tel Aviv where her daughter was born. Subsequently, she began her lifelong career as an English teacher on Kibbutz Shefayim, just north of Herzliyya. For Lefkowitz this meant the beginning of life on kibbutz for her small family. Life on the kibbutz enabled her to have financial freedom and a relaxed state of mind. As a single mother in an unstable economy she didn't have to worry about becoming homeless. She raised her daughter, and later her granddaughters, in the socialist community.   the historical period through which she lived.  she understood that it was important to me,'' said Lavy-Vittis. ``The fact that the film would be made public made it harder for her to share the story.'' ``We always had a strong relationship. My grandmother was very involved with us and had a strong influence over me as I was growing up. Until today, especially since my own mother passed away, she is like a mother to me. Since making the film, we are even closer. The film has enabled me to understand her better. Other women always regarded her as a bohemian figure. Through the film I discovered a benevolent side to her.''  The film alludes to the post-WWII period in Israel where so many people were orphans. Subtly it demonstrates how people without role models built the country from scratch. The film enables viewers to participate on examining the ethical and moral issues that confront Israelis today. It examines questions of Zionism, dreams and reality.
Throughout the film there is a running theme of a blue balloon in flight which alludes to the way people are pulled in different directions throughout life. Additionally, the balloon symbolizes lost dreams. Lavy-Vittis went to ``Find my grandfather in England . When I was making the film I realized that I needed closure with the loss of my mother as well. Making the film helped me.'' Women and the strength of sisterhood is one of the films strongest messages. In Lavy-Vittis' life ``the men disappear and the women remain. Because that is the way I grew up. There were three generations of strong women (before me) who led independent lives.'' The message in Missing Harry is clear: it is possible for a woman to raise a family on her own. There is a price to pay for independence, and there is pain. Women can and should use the right to choose what is correct. Lavy-Vittis learned the lesson of independence in a natural way, from both her mother and grandmother. She believes that women should build self-pride, evaluate what they can achieve and learn to cope with the different situations they are dealt. Additionally, she feels that it is important for men to understand and to respect the challenges that confront women. The filmmaker's parents divorced when she was a child. ``It was only after my mother died that I built a relationship with my dad. The film helped me to understand my dad, mom, grandmother and me. I just got married and the film helped me address and deal with questions of marriage as well.'' The film leaves the viewer intrigued and full of thought about an independent Jewish woman who created a world as she lived through history by a woman and a family of women -- but don't misunderstand -- it is not a women's film, it is a learning experience for all. Lavy-Vittis received footage from the Imperial War Museum in London, the Speilberg Foundation, and Kibbutz Shefayim Archives. The film was shown at the Imperial War Museum. It was her final work for granduate school in England. Her husband Omri Vittes did some of the filming and wrote the musical soundtrack. Text by Michele Kaplan-Green Photos from the film, Missing Harry. |
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