Discover the HBO documentary The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm.
This short family film, presented with the Museum of Jewish Heritage, introduced Holocaust history to a new generation. When 10-year-old Elliott asks his 90-year-old great-grandfather, Jack, about the number tattooed on his arm, he sparks an intimate conversation about Jack’s life that spans happy memories of childhood in Poland, the loss of his family, surviving Auschwitz, and finding a new life in America. Their tender exchange is woven with historical footage and hand-painted animation to tell a heartbreaking story of Jewish life in Eastern Europe before and during the Holocaust.
The HBO film was executive produced by Sheila Nevins and directed and produced by Amy Schatz. This accompanying installation features the art of acclaimed artist Jeff Scher, whose rotoscope animation brings the film’s archival footage and photos to life. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore this incredible work, view the film, and experience the transformative power of survivors’ stories.
Jeff Scher’s work is found in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Academy Film Archives, the Harvard Film Archives, and the Pompidou Centre. The Museum installation is made possible in part by the Murray and Frida Krell Testimony Fund. The Museum also wishes to recognize HBO for its generosity and inspirational partnership.
Film credits for The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm:
Directed & Produced by Amy Schatz
Producer Lynn Sadofsky
Animation by Jeff Scher
Edited by Tom Patterson
Director of Photography Alex Rappoport
Music Composed by Keith Kenniff
Animation producer & graphic design Bonnie Siegler, Eight and a Half
Associate Producer Alex Pitz
Researcher Rebbie Ratner
Inspired by the book The Number on My Grandfather’s Arm by David A. Adler
Production Executive Susan Benaroya
Supervising Producer Lisa Heller
Executive Producer Sheila Nevins
