Playing for Time (1980)

In the shadowy depths of World War II, the melody of survival resonates through Auschwitz Concentration Camp, its haunting notes borne on the voice of Jewish French musician and cabaret singer, Fania Fenelon Goldstein. Stripped of her identity by the Nazis and uprooted from the vibrant city of Paris, Fania's world is reduced to the cruel confines of Auschwitz, her flamboyant hair shorn and her personal belongings confiscated. But amidst this bleak reality, a sliver of hope emerges as she hears a call for a prisoner who can sing Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. With a whisper of her past life as a famous musician, Fania steps forward to join a group of fellow prisoners, an all-female orchestra spared from the gas chambers. They are tasked with the harrowing duty of entertaining their captors, their music becoming a perverse diversion in this theatre of horror. Under the baton of the conductor Alma Rose, Fania convinces her to include her friend Marianne, touting her as a gifted singer. Together, they form a resilient bond, their shared talent and torment forging a unique sisterhood. Their days are filled with the strain of performing for their tormentors, the music that once signified freedom morphing into a lifeline in their struggle for survival. As the years trudge on, the women endure relentless abuse but cling fiercely to life, their dignity wavering but never wholly succumbing. The symphony of their survival serves as a stark reminder of human resilience amidst the most inhumane conditions, weaving a compelling tale of hope, defiance, and the enduring power of music.

Playing for Time is a drama movie featuring Vanessa Redgrave and directed by Daniel Mann.

Playing for Time is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on FILMRISE.