In “Aida’s Secrets,” a man discovers that he has been surreptitiously separated from his brother for 60 years, since they were toddlers at the Bergen-Belsen displaced person camp in Germany after World War II. And that’s just the beginning of a compelling mystery documentary that spans continents and sketchy family identities.
Raised by foster parents in Israel, Izak Sagi has had a good life since the war, surrounded by people who care about him. He knows about this mother, Aida, in Canada, who has visited with him on occasion, but he has no idea about his father — and Aida, to say the least, isn’t providing much in the way of information.
Then comes a bombshell: Izak learns from relatives that he has a brother, Shep Shell — who was taken from the camp by his father. The brothers’ subsequent search to figure out their family — and why they were separated — makes for a tantalizing jigsaw puzzle, even if the pieces don’t entirely fit together.
Directors Alon and Shaul Schwarz, who are Izak’s nephews, get intimate access to family get-togethers and detective missions, though the camerawork and editing often leave something to be desired. Most of the time, this doesn’t matter, because we are drawn into the mystery.
The most compelling character is Aida herself. Her sons implore her to reveal what happened, but she just smiles and says she can’t remember the details. It’s a poignant reminder about how the scars of war can prompt many to take their painful memories to the grave.
David Lewis is a Bay Area freelance writer.
Aida’s Secrets
Biographical mystery documentary. Directed by Alon and Shaul Schwarz. In English and in Hebrew with English subtitles. (Not rated. 90 minutes).