Playing for Time is based upon the autobiography of Fania Fenelon, who’s portrayal by Vanessa Redgrave is nothing short of spectacular. The concept of Playing for Time is simple, a band of woman are held captive in Auschwitz and are spared the horrid fate of the gas chambers in exchange for their talents as musicians.
Similar in my viewing to 2001’s ‘James Dean’ which starred a young James Franco, I kept having to pinch myself, to remind me that this was a made for television film. The caliber of the performance by Vanessa Redgrave was deserving of the big screen. This film was carried on her capable shoulders as the stoic celebrity-turn-prisoner, pianist and singer of the Auschwitz orchestra.
Everything 1960’s Kapo hoped to accomplish as a female driven perspective of life in the camps, Playing for time accomplishes. Throughout the sometimes messy and unfocused two and a half hour long run-time, the film examines camaraderie of the orchestra, inner-politics between the characters, power structures between the Nazi elite, mid-level officers and the players themselves. It examines sexuality and utilising sexuality as a means for survival, the power of hope and the universality of music. Yes, I loved this film. I think the structure of the narrative was, however, unfocused and many themes and ideas do not fully develop. The ideas that do are tied up with moral judgements the creatives involved impose upon the characters. There are some uncomfortable sexual judgements slung from the protagonist at one of the younger captives. Judgements that I’m not sure stand the test of time.
No film of the genre explores humanity in quite the same way Playing for Time does, it uses the concept of the orchestra as a way into the narrative of the holocaust. Through specificity, breads universality. Between you and me, I will try to buy the rights of this book one day. If there was ever a perspective on the holocaust with the most relevance to a modern audience, this might be the one. This deserves to be re-made, if only to be re-seen. This is a special story.