A String of Pearls: The Small Miracles of Charles Middleberg, is a moving collection of storytelling gems... or pearls, the extraordinary childhood memories of a survivor. With charm, passion, wit and exceptionally sharp recall, you will be drawn into Charles' childhood stories based in WWII occupied Paris. One viewer described feeling emotions she'd never felt before...

The screening of 39 minutes in length will be followed by a film discussion and Q&A with guests Joseph G. Brin, film director of “Pearls” and Julia Meyer Gross, oral historian. 

Joe will both address creative storytelling and educational challenges going forward when direct Holocaust survivors are no longer here to testify. He has now embarked on a project to produce a French subtitled edition of the “Pearls” film that he hopes to screen in Paris this Spring!

Julia will comment on the film’s impact and current techniques of oral history. She will give us some historical background about Occupation, keeping  the historical contextualization as close to the history of the Jews in France as possible and dive into the history of the towns that are mentioned in the movie and part of Charles' journey.


Cyclorama Films is a nonprofit established to preserve Jewish life stories on film, promoting greater understanding between people, Jewish and non-Jewish.

Refreshments and Challah bread will be served.

*** WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ***

Date: Friday, February 21st

Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Duration: 1.5 hour

Location: Alliance Française de Philadelphie, 1420 Walnut St, Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Language: English

Fee: $20 for AF members / $25 for non AF members