I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal: Review By Brokaw

Simon Wiesenthal was an important figure in the 20th Century and his legacy unfolds in this incredible film that chronicles his life from the time he was born in the Ukraine until his death. Wiesenthal narrowly escaped death in the Mauthausen concentration camp during WWII. After the camp was liberated he joined forces with the Allies to put together information about those who took part in the deaths of millions of people and bring them to justice. The capture of Adolf Eichman (the mastermind of "The Final Solution" which set out to exterminate the Jewish population) was perhaps his greatest triumph, however he was instrumental in aiding in the capture and trials of more than 1100 of the worst Nazi war criminals.

Narrated by Nicole Kidman and through interviews with Wiesenthal and others (Sir Ben Kingsley, Wiesenthal's daughter, and more) his life and legacy is told in a way that not only teaches audiences about his life's work, but also about the horrors of the Nazi regime with his intention to keep it from happening again. Wiesenthal lost over 90 members of his family during the Holocaust and after the war was over he dedicated his life to hunting down those who committed the atrocities. He started the Jewish Doc*mentation Center which was the clearing house for information about Nazi criminals. His motto was "Justice, Not Revenge" and his center was the only place in the world where people knew they could go to contribute or locate information about Nazi criminals. Wiesenthal was the one who authenticated the Anne Frank diary and therefore silenced those who discounted her story and the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

This film was shot on location around the world and is an important window into the last half of the 20th century. Most people might already know about the man and his quest for justice, however this film will surprise even those who think they know what he accomplished during his lifetime. As a matter of fact, he contributed a wealth of information to several projects including the film The Odessa File and his efforts leading to the capture of Eichman are recounted in the film The House on Garibaldi Street.

This film is not only important, it is necessary. It is a beautiful tribute to a man who dedicated his life to those who could no longer fight for justice. His work targeted not only anti-Semitism, but all racial prejudices and the movie brings to light the horrors that people can inflict on others. His stories about the Nazis are heart breaking and true, which make them all the more tragic.