Kichka: Telling Myself

Description

At age 67, Michel Kichka is compelled to step back from his position at the Bezalel Academy, making way for younger artists as he reflects on his career as a notable cartoonist. His work has documented the evolution of Israeli society and politics, particularly the changes in the Zionist narrative from hopeful beginnings to a more critical perspective. The film showcases Kichka's transition from a Belgian immigrant who fought in the Yom Kippur War to a voice addressing societal decline and the collective memory of the Holocaust. To confront the burden of being a second-generation Holocaust survivor, Kichka creates a graphic novel that reveals his family's history and his father's silence surrounding their past. This graphic work has been transformed into an animated feature film aimed at educating the younger generation about the Holocaust. Through his artistic journey, Kichka seeks to connect the past with the present, advocating for remembrance and understanding.