The Juggler

The Juggler is a rare gem that rounds out our tribute to Kirk Douglas, SFJFF Freedom of Expression Award recipient (see page xx). In one of Hollywood's earliest depictions of a Holocaust survivor, Douglas plays Hans Muller, a German Jew, who was a famous juggler before he was sent to a concentration camp; he stayed alive, but his wife and children did not. Muller is now one of the thousands of refugees who have come to Israel following World War II. Tormented by his past and survivor guilt, Muller’s grief is palpable and he is quick to anger—he confuses other families for his own and lashes out at authorities. Disoriented by his new surroundings, and thinking he has killed a policeman, he flees across the country, meeting an aimless teenage orphan along the way. At a kibbutz Muller finds the possibility of love with Ya'El, a young woman farmer who is committed to helping get the new Jewish state on its feet. The inimitable Douglas imbues the role of Muller with a savage intensity. But The Juggler (produced by the legendary Stanley Kramer) is more than a harrowing character study; it is also a unique and fascinating portrait of a young Israel that portends the societal fissures that are to come. —Jay Rosenblatt