Film Review: The Cemetery Club

This amazing documentary really grabbed at my heart strings. A group of senior Israelis meet regularly in the Mount Hertzl National Cemetery in Jerusalem. They walk by the small stones and often read the names and ages of those buried there. They carry their small light garden chairs and meet at a regular spot every Saturday. Mostly they are Polish survivors of the Holocaust. They talk about philosophical issues or read poetry. They eat food using plastic utensils. It doesn’t look very appetizing. They sit in a circle and obey the rules and regulations they have set for themselves. The woman in charge blows a whistle to announce the beginning of the sessions.
There is no makeup. You see these aged faces up close. Every line and wrinkle is evident. You see tears and hear laughter. Mostly we meet Lena and her sister-in-law. Lena is a former lawyer and a bit of a bully to her sister-in-law. They are inseparable. I loved the scene where they have traveled to the Dead Sea. They cover themselves with the black mud. They sit in the sun with their feet in the water. They talk about former memories and discuss family issues. It is so sad and yet it is uplifting to see the group. Their mandate is to alleviate the loneliness. In that sense they fulfill their goal. On the other hand it is so sad to see the aging group together. Throughout the filming several of the members die. We see part of the ritual burying process.
This is not a film for entertainment. I loved every minute. I loved these people. They were so real and genuine. You see some lovely cinematography. It is hard to imagine but the cemetery is a beautiful place. We often see the large tomb of Hertzl, whose name was given to the cemetery. I don’t imagine this film will have a large following. I saw it as a beautiful character study and a case history of survivors from the holocaust. One woman is constantly seen lighting a cigarette. I don’t think she says one word. She doesn’t need to. The filming of her wrinkled face lighting a cigarette is pure artistry. In many ways it is like viewing a home movie. The writer and director can be seen in many shots. I felt privileged to be invited into the lives of these lovely seniors.