Moshe Rynecki (1881-1943) was a prolific Warsaw-based artist who painted scenes of the Polish-Jewish community until he was murdered at Majdanek concentration camp. After the Holocaust, Moshe’s wife was only able to recover a small fraction of his work, but unbeknownst to the family, many other pieces survived. For more than a decade his great-granddaughter Elizabeth has searched for the missing art, with remarkable and unexpected success.
Spanning three generations, Chasing Portraits is a deeply moving narrative of the richness of one man’s art, the devastation of war, and one woman’s unexpected path to healing. Chasing Portraits was an official selection to both the San Francisco and New York Jewish Film Festivals, and has played at festivals worldwide.
Buy the DVD from distributor First Run Features or on Amazon. Alternatively, you can stream it on Amazon, iTunes, Kanopy [check with your library], or OvidTV.
What Critics Are Saying
“Part Woman in Gold and part family home movie, with shades of Everything Is Illuminated and Antiques Roadshow, the documentary Chasing Portraits is both funnier and deeper than even its compelling premise suggests.” – Shana Nys Dambrot, LA WEEKLY
“‘Chasing Portraits’ is about a search. Yet the most affecting parts of this documentary come with the realization that some things may never be found.” – Ken Jaworowski, THE NEW YORK TIMES
“With its compelling tale of a family’s trauma and recovery, Elizabeth’s story is captivating throughout every stage of her journey. As the years go by, the number of living Holocaust survivors shrinks, and the importance of preserving this part of history through the younger generations grows. ‘Chasing Portraits’ shows the pain and impact of the Holocaust spanning every generation and also showcases the strength it takes to heal. Elizabeth Rynecki has created a beautiful portrait of loss and growth and in doing so has brought the gift of Moshe Rynecki’s art to a new, thankful audience.” – Dylan Brennan, NONFICS
“[Elizabeth] effectively captures a raft of emotional beats, especially those involving her kindly, Holocaust-survivor dad (Moshe’s grandson), who prefers to keep his dark childhood at arm’s length. As for Moshe’s paintings of pre-World War II Polish-Jewish life, they’re a dazzling, evocative collection.” – Gary Goldstein, LA TIMES
Film Q&A
If your group is watching Chasing Portraits and would like to have Elizabeth do a FREE virtual Q & A, email Elizabeth@ElizabethRynecki.com
Materials for Media
Press Kit: CHASING PORTRAITS press kit download here.
Download high resolution stills and descriptions here.
The film was supported by grants from the following:
