Holocaust survivor Charles Middleberg engaging students at Burlington Township Middle School, NJ
Preserving Jewish Life Stories
Cyclorama Films is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit that promotes greater understanding between people, Jewish and non-Jewish, through the art of recorded Jewish life stories.
These true stories are more important than ever in these turbulent times.
What We Do
Host film screenings for both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences to educate and promote Jewish life stories, beginning with our debut project A String Of Pearls
Screenings
Young Documentarians Program
Multi-week professional level course for students on visual storytelling, filmmaking, and oral history techniques to help new generations preserve and tell meaningful Jewish stories. This program is in development, seeking funding
Our Book
Published in November 2023, BUOYANT: A Child’s Journey of Survival is a companion piece to A String of Pearls film with hundreds of pages of silhouette stills from the film in the tradition of the “wordless novel”
The Film
A String of Pearls: The Small Miracles of Charles Middleberg is a heartfelt story about a 9 year-old boy who survived the Holocaust by hiding on the roof of an old Parisian apartment, escaping to a farm, and converting to Catholicism. Narrated by the 94 year-old Middleberg himself, A String of Pearls is a moving collection of stories that retells a dark period in history and the small miracles that saved a resilient young boy’s life.
Told with charm, passion, wit and exceptionally sharp recall, the viewer is drawn into Middleberg's childhood stories based in WWII-occupied Paris.
The film is illustrated with hundreds of hand-cut silhouettes carved by Director Joseph G. Brin, combined with his pencil and digital techniques. An original score by Composer Roberto Pace was further enhanced by the efforts of Artistic Director Ellen Becker-Gray who shaped the story arc of the entire film, maintaining the highest of graphics standards.
Run time: 39 mins
Left: Sunday school students met Mr. Middleberg (seated second from right) at the first public screening of A String of Pearls, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Philadelphia, PA, April 2023. More than 200 people attended this event.
Right: Final in-person screening with Charles Middleberg at Alliance Francaise de Philadelphie, PA, in December 2023 before his passing.
Attend A Future Screening
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Mon, May 6
05.06.24 7:00PM
Kesher Israel Congregation
1000 Pottstown Pike, West Chester, PA 19380
Request A Screening
Would you like to see A String Of Pearls screened near you?
Or maybe you have an idea for a venue partner.
We’d love to hear from you!