'UnBroken' Review: A Powerful Testament to Family, Memory, and Survival
- Romey Norton
- May 26
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - May 26, 2025
In her heartfelt documentary UnBroken, filmmaker Beth Lane dives headfirst into the untold story of her family where seven Jewish siblings who, as children, narrowly escaped Nazi persecution. What follows is not just a history lesson but a deeply personal excavation of memory, resilience, and the ties that hold generations together.
A Personal Holocaust Story That Spans Generations
In an era where first-hand Holocaust accounts are becoming rarer, UnBroken serves as a vital bridge between generations. It’s not only about what happened, but how trauma echoes down the line, and how storytelling becomes a form of healing.
Audiences begin Lane’s journey with old photos, letters, and whispered anecdotes that evolve into a vivid tapestry of survival. Lane’s most pressing question in this documentary is: How did her family defy the odds when so many couldn't? As she goes back in time and pieces together how her mother and uncles fled Germany and survived the Holocaust, we’re taken on a journey that is as emotionally stirring as it is historically important.
Innovative Documentary Techniques Bring History to Life
Lane’s direction is gentle yet purposeful. She balances emotionally rich interviews with elegant visuals, using subtle animation to bring the siblings' memories to life where no archival footage exists. This technique adds both accessibility and poignancy, especially for younger audiences who may be discovering this history for the first time. The animations help bring the stories to life and soften some of the harder-to-hear stories.
Lane and her uncles’ voices act as a voiceover, gently guiding the audience through this journey of discovery. Lane’s voice is polished, but not perfect, and you can feel the passion she has for this project. Her uncle’s voice has a distinct accent, giving an authenticity to this piece.
The siblings’ reflections are raw but never overly polished, and the film’s honesty is what gives it its staying power. They’re interesting, fun people who are both happy and humbled to share and re-live this story. We travel through time with them, going back to locations where they lived, and conducting first-class interviews of each sibling, describing their experiences and memories.
UnBroken Honors the Resilience and Humanity of Holocaust Survivors
While this family was able to escape, many of their friends and other family members did not, and the documentary does not shy away from this and the harsh realities of the concentration camps and Jewish persecution. Many of the stories will put a lump in your throat and may even bring a tear to your eye.
One of the main ways these family was able to survive is down to two Christian farmers who hid them for two years. There’s a poignant part of the documentary where Lane asks some younger students if they would house people now if this were to happen again. They tentatively say yes. The one who is the most confident is a refugee, who says he needed someone to help him, so he would help others.
We follow more and more moments from the family, discovering more incredible things along the way. Without giving any spoilers, this family is huge, filled with experience and so much love.
UnBroken is a quietly powerful documentary film; intimate in scale, universal in message. It reminds us that history isn’t just dates and places; it’s people, choices, and the courage to endure. Beth Lane’s documentary is a moving tribute not just to her family, but to every story still waiting to be told. If you like the British BCC TV show Who Do You Think You Are?, a genealogy series in which well-known people trace their family tree, you’ll certainly enjoy this documentary. It’s eye-opening, heart-breaking, and heart-warming all at the same time.
UnBroken is streaming now on Netflix (US)
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