The 27th of January is Holocaust Memorial Day and The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 - the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau - as International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration.

On the 27th January 1945, Soviet soldiers opened the gates of Auschwitz Concentration Camp, liberating more than 7,000 prisoners. It is estimated that approximately 1.1 million people perished in Auschwitz during the 5 years of its operation. The liberation is marked with services worldwide.

On this occasion Israeli well-known artist Adir Miller is in Tirana to screen "The Ring" for Albanian officials and foreign ambassadors as guests of the Israeli Embassy and Ambassador Galit Peleg. "It's important for us that more people see and understand what generations before us experienced here during World War II so that it does not happen again," said Mr. Miller.

According to him, his film 'The Ring', a film that he created and for which he is the screenwriter, co-director, and lead actor, has surpassed 300,000 viewers in just one month.

"The Ring" is the last film he was involved in, a film inspired by the story of his family during World War II in Hungary, a period that Jews refer to as the Holocaust, during which the largest genocide in history was carried out under the leadership of Nazi Germany and its collaborators across Europe, resulting in the murder of six million Jews, according to him.

Further Mr. Miller revealed that before coming to Albania, he read about the help that Albanians provided to Jewish people in Albania and the fact that they also offered refuge to Jews from other countries during the war. "I also learned from my visit here that Albania is the only country in Europe where the number of Jews during the war actually increased and that Albanians have a code of honor in which you are responsible for your guests and committed to protecting them at all costs. I was moved to hear that there were those here who acted with their humanity and did what few others in Europe did."

Asked if it is interesting to make a movie about the experience of Jews being saved in Albania during the Nazi occupation of this country, Mr. Miller told Albanian Daily News in the following exclusive interview:  "I think this is an unknown historical detail that deserves and needs to be highlighted in a narrative or documentary film or a series on the subject. There were hardly any countries that stood by their Jewish citizens, and it's important that these stories become known beyond the borders of Albania":

Albanian Daily News: First of all, thank you for this exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News, and as it's the first one, what could you tell us about your career?

Israeli artist Adir Miller: I started as a stand-up comedian in clubs, and afterwards, I got a weekly stand-up segment on a TV show. At the age of 27, I was given the opportunity to host the main weekend talk show on Israeli TV. In 2008, I wrote the sitcom 'Traffic Light,' which won numerous awards, including an Academy Award and an International Emmy Award. In 2016, I wrote my second sitcom 'Miller Junction,' which also received great acclaim. Currently, my film 'The Ring' is showing, which has surpassed 300,000 viewers in just one month. Among other things, I am running a successful stand-up show in Israel."

I enjoy creating, making people laugh, and moving them, and I feel excited when an audience comes and pays money to see me perform on stage. It's exhilarating, and even after 30 years, it's not something to take for granted.

- Which is the last movie that you were fully engaged in, and what is it about?

- The last film I was involved in is "The Ring," a film that I created and for which I am the screenwriter, co-director, and lead actor. The film is inspired by the story of my family during World War II in Hungary, a period that we Jews refer to as the Holocaust, during which the largest genocide in history was carried out under the leadership of Nazi Germany and its collaborators across Europe, resulting in the murder of six million Jews.

The film itself tells the story of Arnon Noble, a baal teshuva (someone who becomes religious) who is very connected to his mother, a Holocaust survivor. He regularly drives her to lectures in schools where she tells students how she survived and saved the life of her child with a thin gold ring. When the mother's health deteriorates, he decides to travel to her hometown to search for that ring that saved her life. He reaches out to his investigator daughter, with whom he has been out of touch for many years, and proposes that they undertake this journey together, hoping that the ring will save his mother's life once again. The film itself incorporates flashbacks that depict the experiences of Arnon's parents and Arnon himself during the war. The journey helps Arnon connect not only with his daughter but also with his past and his commitment as a survivor to contribute to preserving the memory of the Holocaust.

- As it's about the Holocaust, have you heard anything about the saving of Jews by Albanian people in different areas of this Balkan country occupied by Nazi German troops during the Second World War?

- Before coming to Albania, I read about the help that Albanians provided to Jewish people in Albania and the fact that they also offered refuge to Jews from other countries during the war. I also learned from my visit here that Albania is the only country in Europe where the number of Jews during the war actually increased and that Albanians have a code of honor in which you are responsible for your guests and committed to protecting them at all costs. I was moved to hear that there were those here who acted with their humanity and did what few others in Europe did.

- Is this the first time that you come to Albania, and if you don't mind, what is the motivation that brings you here? Secondly, are you aware of the history, traditions, and cultural heritage of Albania?

- We came here to screen "The Ring" for Albanian officials and foreign ambassadors as guests of the Israeli Embassy and Ambassador Galit Peleg. It's important for us that more people see and understand what generations before us experienced here during World War II so that it does not happen again. We Jews have suffered from ancient nations and much hatred throughout history, and I believe that telling such a story can teach us about our painful history and warn against the recurrence of such events in the future.

On 10.7.2023, the terrorist organization Hamas attacked families in their homes and young people at a music festival, murdering about 1,200 and kidnapping 250, some of whom have yet to be returned. Therefore, our mission to prevent such events from happening again is far from over. During our visit, we took a trip around Albania and learned about its fascinating and unique history during the war and after, and we were impressed by the heroism of the Albanian people during the war and the tumultuous history from the war to the end of the communist era, as well as the significant changes taking place in the country over the past decades.

- I have read about the movie "The Ring." What can you tell ADN's readers about this movie and your participation in it?

- The stories depicted during the war are my family story, except that my character as a Holocaust baby was actually a baby girl, and that is, of course, my mother Marian. I worked on the screenplay for a long time, and we filmed the movie in Israel and Hungary with leading Israeli actresses: Tiki Dayan as the grandmother and Joy Rieger as the daughter, and of course, a gallery of Hungarian actors. I worked on the film as a co-director with the Paz brothers, well-known Israeli directors, and then worked for another year in post-production until we hit the screens at the end of December, and I am happy to say that the film has achieved enormous success in Israel. I hope that soon we will start screening outside the borders of Israel as well.

- What could you say about antisemitism in some countries, especially in Europe?

- It saddens me. If you look throughout history, Jews have suffered from pogroms, expulsions, and many restrictions in every European country: Spain, England, Italy, France, Russia, Hungary, and more. Today, the old antisemitism, with roots in ancient history, has merged with a new antisemitism related to hatred of Israel and opposition to the existence of a Jewish state. I hope that a film like "The Ring" can remind people of what happens when we turn a blind eye, when we assist evil, and when those who are different from you pay an unfathomable price just because they are different. Antisemitism has always reared its head when the economic/political/social situation was difficult, and people looked for a scapegoat, and it has always signaled hard times to come. I hope that this time we might stop this wave of hatred in time.

- Does it seem interesting to make a movie about the experience of Jews being saved in Albania during the Nazi occupation of this country?

- I think this is an unknown historical detail that deserves and needs to be highlighted in a narrative or documentary film or a series on the subject. There were hardly any countries that stood by their Jewish citizens, and it's important that these stories become known beyond the borders of Albania.

- Let me touch on the current situation in the Gaza Strip and how do you assess what is happening from the perspective of an artist?

- I am an artist, not a politician.

- As a follow-up, some countries, including EU member states, have denounced the repercussions of the war, with thousands of victims and massive destruction among the Palestinians. There have also been protests against Israel. What is your opinion about this?

- I don't think there's anything to add here.

- Meanwhile, has such a war affected the popularity of your works in the aforementioned countries? How do you feel about this?

- I am an Israeli artist who performs a lot in Israel as well as for Israeli communities abroad. This has not changed or been affected since the war. / ADN