Who was the Mexican Schindler? That's the question Lilian Lieberman aims to answer in her 2010 documentary Visa al Paraiso (Visa to Paradise). During World War II, Gilberto Bosques, the Mexican ambassador to France, went above and beyond the call of duty and successfully relocated thousands of European Jews to Mexico and South America to spare them from a fate of persecution and entrapment in Nazi concentration camps. The film recounts the exodus through testimonials given by living survivors and even Bosques himself, at the time he was the ripe old age of 100.
Wednesday night (TONIGHT), Regal Westpark 8 theater in Irvine will host a screening of Visa al Paraiso to recognize Bosque's courageous efforts, still widely unknown to the major public today. The night's event will also feature some opening remarks by the Mexican Consul, as well as a discussion with screenwriter and psychologist Dr. Michael Berlin.
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With this screening, as well as Bosques' nomination for the 2014 Raoul Wallenberg Prize for his life-saving efforts, let's hope that Bosques will finally get the wide spread recognition he deserves.
This event is hosted by the Consulate of Mexico, the Anti-Defamation League of Long Beach and The Orange County Jewish Film Festival. Tickets are $15 at the door. Screening starts at 7:00 pm. See you there!
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Aimee Murillo is calendar editor and frequently covers film and previously contributed to the OCW’s long-running fashion column, Trendzilla. Don’t ask her what her favorite movie is unless you want to hear her lengthy defense of Showgirls.