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Watermarks

EMAILPRINTKino International Corp.

Watermarks reviews
67
9.1 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 15 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 8 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Documentary  |  Foreign

Written by: Ronen Dorfan
Yonatan Israel
Yaron Zilberman

Directed by: Yaron Zilberman

Release Date:
Theatrical: January 21, 2005
DVD: December 6, 2005

Running Time: 80 minutes, Color

Origin: France / Israel / USA

Language(s): English / German / Hebrew (with English subtitles)

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Judith Haspel, Trude Hirschler, Anni Lampl, Hanni Lux, Ann Marie Pisker, Nanne Selinger, Greta Stanton, and Elisheva Susz

Watermarks is the story of the champion women swimmers of the legendary Jewish sports club, Hakoah Vienna. Hakoah ("The Strength" in Hebrew) was founded in 1909 in response to the notorious Aryan Paragraph, which forbade Austrian sports clubs from accepting Jewish athletes. Told by the swimmers, now in their eighties, Watermarks is about a group of young girls with a passion to be the best. It is the saga of seven outstanding athletes who still swim daily as they age with grace. (Kino International)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

In the absolutely moving new documentary Watermarks, seven women in their 80s return to the Vienna swimming pool of their youth.

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80

The Hollywood Reporter Sheri Linden

The excellent film combines a wealth of archival material with the reminiscences of an unforgettable group of octogenarian women who were champion swimmers when Hitler annexed Austria in 1938.

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80

The New York Times Stephen Holden

A moving documentary that approaches the Holocaust from a fresh, intimate perspective.

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75

New York Post Debra Birnbaum

Ultimately a moving, poignant tale about triumph in the face of the unthinkable.

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75

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Not a great movie, but contains fascinating historical material.

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75

Miami Herald Marta Barber

Touching.

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75

San Francisco Chronicle Jonathan Curiel

More than just a nostalgia trip.

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70

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Unfortunately their story ends just as it becomes most provocative.

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70

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Wonderful, heartwarming.

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70

Variety Lisa Nesselson

Snappy, affecting documentary.

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70

Village Voice Laura Sinagra

Though Zilberman's affection for the women leads to some indulgent digression, the doc's low-key tone (and lack of the stock, timpani-backed Nazi iconography) throws certain anecdotes into powerful relief.

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70

TV Guide Ken Fox

Each woman is a terrific interview, and if the climactic vision of these still beautiful ladies gliding through the water doesn't bring a lump to your throat, you surely have no heart.

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60

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Not especially lively filmmaking, but Zilberman has unearthed some terrific footage of the club in its heyday.

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50

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

Well-intentioned and exceedingly nice, Watermarks aspires to warm the soul, but succeeds only in numbing the mind.

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50

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

As documentaries go, Watermarks is nothing special. But the women who inhabit it are sensational.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Kathryn D. gave it a10:
Remarkable! Moving and educational. One of the best documentaries I have ever seen. I will never forget viewing this. This is one of those rare things that the world would be a better place for seeing.

Jack W. gave it a10:
Riveting. Finally, a "real" movie from those times, that brinkgs us back in time and then forward to the real people, as they are today, interacting together once again. Brilliant.

Renata S. gave it a10:
As a 20 something female it is particularly intriguing to watch footage of other women fighting to achieve success and achieve it during such a tragic time. The documentary was moving and motivational.

Jimmy gave it a3:
Oh yea, it didn't seem as if the above reviews weren't written by the same person.

Honey L. gave it a10:
So moving. Made me proud to be Jewish and for the first time, I wanted to visit Israel.

Judith K. gave it a10:
Sensitive, gentle, yet realistic portrayal of discrimination and the real triumph of the will!

Roger R. gave it a10:
Quite moving and inspirational - smooth and creative editing of achival footage - unique perspective of the pre-holocaust experience.

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