Photo : The Bak Project ©Samuel Bak Family Archives
Samuel Bak, Fragments/Hope by Daniela Bak
Step into the haunting world of Samuel Bak through this intimate cinematic portrait filmed by his own daughter. This documentary traces his journey from a child prodigy to a celebrated artist, masterfully navigating themes of loss and the persistence of the human spirit. Expect a profound dialogue that reveals how profound scars can shape a powerful artistic language.
Mémorial de la Shoah (Paris 4th)
About
Join the Mémorial de la Shoah on Sunday, November 22, 2026, for a screening of the documentary Samuel Bak, fragments/espoir by Daniela Bak. Running from 14:00 to 16:00, this event explores the life and artistic evolution of Samuel Bak, a survivor of the Vilnius ghetto known for his profound meditations on humanity and memory. This session is free to attend, though advance booking is required. The screening will feature a live discussion with the filmmaker, Daniela Bak, and historian Renée Poznanski, professor emeritus at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, providing a unique insight into the artist's legacy.
A child prodigy nicknamed the "miracle child" by poet Avrom Sutzkever, Samuel Bak held his first exhibition in 1942 at the age of 9 in the Vilna Ghetto. Today an internationally renowned painter, he returns, before the camera of his daughter Daniela Bak, to his childhood in the ghetto, his miraculous survival with his mother, but also to the birth of his artistic language: a universe of symbols, metaphors, and reconstructed fragments that become philosophical meditations on memory, loss, chance, and the human condition.
In the presence of the director.
In conversation with Renée Poznanski, historian, professor emeritus at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel).
Our take on this event
On Sunday, November 22, 2026, the Mémorial de la Shoah hosts a special screening of the film Samuel Bak, fragments/espoir. Directed by Daniela Bak, the documentary examines the early life of her father, Samuel Bak, who famously held his first exhibition in the Vilnius ghetto in 1942 at the age of nine.
Through his art, Samuel Bak transforms themes of loss, chance, and survival into a complex language of symbols and reconstructed fragments. This afternoon event, taking place from 14:00 to 16:00, offers an intimate look at how these experiences shaped his international career.
The screening will be followed by a conversation between Daniela Bak and Renée Poznanski, a historian and professor emeritus at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Participation in this event is free, but please note that reservations are mandatory.
