Distant Journey

1/30/2026

Perhaps what adds extra impact to this story of the “Kaufmann” family is the fact that it was made in Czechoslovakia a mere four years after the war had ended. The actors and crew here would still have the true memories of the Nazi invasion, occupation and news of the Holocaust fresh in their minds when they embarked on this depiction of the tragic story of a family torn asunder because of their traditions and faith. What makes this harder to watch is that as the fear and panic sets in, the family begins to fracture and to an extent implode as, all the while, we are presented with actuality of a goose-stepping High Command that looks as unassailable as it does brutal. The story unfolds via a few different threads. As Naziism gains momentum and it’s propaganda takes control of the message,