Proud Jewish Boy

“...tells one of the most bizarre, complex stories from World War II.” – The Jerusalem Post

Australian Premiere

On November 7, 1938, 17-year-old Herschel Grynszpan shot Nazi diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris. This action triggered the horrors of Kristallnacht, one of the worst pogroms in history, which in turn developed into the events of the Holocaust.

For centuries, the life and identity of this mysterious boy assassin who the Nazis blamed for WWII has remained a relative mystery, but documentarian Isri Halpern was determined to dig deeper. Using rare interviews, archival footage, and new illustrations by the artists who brought Waltz with Bashir to life, Halpern investigates the intricate layers of Grynszpan’s private life, including a hidden chapter involving a clandestine relationship with a male German diplomat.

This gripping detective story, full of unexpected twists and turns, presents Grynszpan’s full story for the first time, revealing why his name was later erased from collective memory.

Each session will be preceded by a video introduction from Dr Simon Holloway from the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.

Festival Appearances/Awards
Haifa International Film Festival 2026 – Winner, Best Documentary
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival 2026 – Winner, Best Documentary