Translation from the original French:
The Ambassador
Memorial de la Shoah Thursday, 23rd April 2015
Premiere of Inna Rogatchi’s film The Lessons of Survival. Conversations with Simon Wiesenthal
I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the event, Memorial de la Shoah, and to the author of the film Inna Rogatchi on the occasion of the French premiere of the film The Lessons of Survival. Conversations with Simon Wiesenthal.
This film conveys an important message. To overcome hatred, to continue the dialogue and to fight the prejudices – I quote the author Inna Rogatchi.
The word ‘humanity’ means living together while sharing the same essential values. Sometimes one can doubt that and humanity might be a meaningless term. We think, of course, on the tragic events in Paris that occurred in the beginning of the year, and of the fragile balance which currently surrounds us.
The Second World War ended seventy years ago, and recently we commemorated the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. It is very important to realise that the tragedy of the Second World War is our recent history, from the perspective of the general history of Europe. We shall not forget the horrors of that war, and will make sure that our children know our history well.
This film is a homage to the victims of the Second World War, including six million Jews deported and exterminated in the Nazi camps. We need testimonies to maintain the memory. The film by Inna Rogatchi shows the importance of Simon Wiesenthal’s battle, but this testimony also projects hope, humanity and dignity.
The film’s author Inna Rogatchi was able to capture emotions in her film. It transmits, continues the combat and contributes to maintaining this very important public discussion.
Congratulations for this remarkable work, Inna.
I wish a good screening tonight, and a great success for this film.
Risto Piipponen
Ambassador of Finland in France