The bond between a Jewish boy and his dog during the Holocaust is the focus in the family drama film, “Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog,” opening in South Florida theaters on June 11.
The film is based on the Israeli novel “The Jewish Dog” by Asher Kravitz.
Kaleb, a German shepherd, is separated from his Jewish family and 10-year-old master Joshua (August Maturo) when the Nuremberg Laws are passed in Germany forbidding Jews to own pets. After becoming a street dog, he is adopted by an SS dog trainer (Ken Duken), who trains him to attack and round up Jews at a concentration camp where he is reunited with the now imprisoned Joshua.
Lynn Roth, the film’s director, writer and producer, explained what she hopes audiences can take away from the film.
“I hope that what they take away from the film is experiential, new emotions, that they are reminded of what happened during these terrible times but through a different prism, that perhaps they even gain new insights and that even through the darkest moments, some form of hope can emerge —to survive, to heal and to envision better times.”
Roth said her goal for the film was to tell the story of the Holocaust in a way it hadn’t been told before, with an added perspective.
“Something that would be accessible to multi generations,” she continued. “A film a family could see together and discuss.”
August, 13, said working on the film was his first film experience.
“I was 10 years old and had been doing television since I was 4 years old, and I had only done comedy, so this was completely different for me,” he said. “I was excited to try something new as an actor, and film something dramatic, and filming in Budapest was an experience I’ll never forget. It was my first time in Europe, and the city and people were so great.”
August said he gained knowledge of the Holocaust while working on the film.
“When I booked the role, I knew nothing about the Holocaust,” he said. “In order to prepare for my role, I read several books like ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ ‘Number the Stars’, ‘The Hiding Place’ & ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.’ I also watched any age appropriate films, although there weren’t that many I could watch at 10 years old.”
August continued, “That’s why ‘Shepherd’ is so great.”
“It fills in the missing gap for kids who would otherwise have no way to watch these types of films,” he said. “It teaches children about the Holocaust in a gentle way, which is so hard to do. I also gained a lot of knowledge from actually being in the film, seeing what the camps were like, how people were treated and experiencing things firsthand like having my hair cut off.”
The film screened virtually during the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and the Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival.
“I think we had a very warm and positive response to our film,” Roth said. “The audiences understood it on several levels. Many viewers had knowledge or even relatives who had experienced the Holocaust. Also Florida is compromised of many people who cherish their pets and are avid dog lovers.”
Roth feels there is an added importance to the film being released theatrically amid the rise of antisemitism in the United States.
“With what has transpired in the last month in the United States, a place we think that these things can’t happen, it is vitally important to educate and alert especially young people to what has transpired in our history and to make sure that these hate crimes of today do not escalate in any way, shape or form,” she said.
The film is scheduled to open at Regal South Beach in Miami Beach, Regal Magnolia Place in Coral Springs, Regal Westfork in Pembroke Pines, Movies of Lake Worth and Regal Royal Palm Beach.
Visit shepherdthemovie.com for more information on the film.