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The Mascot

Directed by Lina Caneva

USA | 55 minutes | 2002

When a Nazi death squad massacred his mother and fellow villagers, five-year-old Alex Kurzem escaped, hiding in the freezing Russian forest until he was picked up by a group of Latvian SS soldiers. Alex was able to hide his Jewish identity and win over the soldiers, becoming their mascot and an honorary "corporal" in the SS with his own uniform. But what began as a desperate bid for survival became a performance that delighted the highest ranks of the Nazi elite. And so a young Jewish boy ended up starring in a Nazi propaganda film.
Director Lina Caneva
Countries of Production USA
Year of Presentation 2002
Language(s)
Premiere Status
Runtime 55 minutes
Principal Cast Mark Kurzem
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