Through intimate interviews and live performances, They Played for Their Lives artfully portrays how music saved the lives of young musicians during the Holocaust. Playing music in Jewish ghettos and concentration camps not only fostered spiritual strength within themselves and others, but often proved a bargaining tool that spared their lives. In this documentary by Nurit Jugend and co-producer Aaron I. Butler with illustrations by Ari Binus, follow the personal narratives of eight survivors—each with a unique story that illustrates the power of music to sustain the human soul. 

Available through May 31, 2021.