High-level discussion with Prof. Dariusz STOLA, Polish Academy of Sciences, on the movie "Sophie's Choice"

The European Civilization Chair had the pleasure to held a critical discussion on Alan J. PAKULA’s famous and controversial movie Sophie’s Choice, based on William STYRON’s novel under the same title.

Sophie is the survivor of Nazi concentration camps, who has found a reason to live with Nathan, a sparkling if unsteady American Jew obsessed with the Holocaust. The movie touches upon the inflammatory questions of anti-Semitism, Polish-Jewish relations and the dramatic moral dilemmas of an individual in extreme circumstances. It is for this movie that Meryl STREEP won her first Academy Award for Best Actress (and second Oscar in her career), as well as a Golden Globe.

The discussion featured a high-level guest, Professor Dariusz STOLA from the Polish Academy of Sciences and former Director of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw and was moderated by Professor Georges MINK.

For the students who were unable or not willing to participate in person the event was broadcasted via Zoom. For more information, please contact Anna BANACH.

About the speaker:

Professor Dariusz STOLA is a renowned specialist on international migrations in the 20th century, Polish-Jewish relations and history of the communist Polish People’s Republic and former director of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. As its director, Prof. STOLA was one of the main architects of success of the Museum (European Museum of the Year in 2016). He has served on the boards of several international and Polish institutions for education and research in contemporary history, including the International Auschwitz Council, the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, Warsaw University’s Centre for Migration Research and the History Meeting House in Warsaw. Prof. STOLA is also a member of the Academic Council of the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity.

Profile photo courtesy: ISP PAN