The documentary short film “Nina & Irena” tells the story of filmmaker Daniel Lombroso’s grandmother, Nina Gottlieb, who is a Holocaust survivor. The film is a follow-up to Lombroso’s 2020 documentary “White Noise,” which focused on leaders in the “alt-right” movement. During the making of “White Noise,” Lombroso found himself constantly surrounded by neo-Nazis and was motivated to tell his grandmother’s story due to the impact of her experiences on his own life. The New Yorker Studios film features interviews with Nina Gottlieb and includes archival footage that showcases moments of joy in her life. Despite her difficult past, Gottlieb maintains an active lifestyle and a positive outlook. The film has been well-received at various festivals, including the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride. Lombroso embarked on the project as a personal endeavor and aimed to capture his grandmother’s story with honesty and respect, avoiding cliches of documentary filmmaking. He highlights her resilience and compassion, emphasizing her message of perseverance and empathy. While the film showcases the horrors of the Holocaust, it also captures the joy and humor in Nina Gottlieb’s life.
