International Holocaust Remembrance Day: "Le Chemin des Juifs”

Discover the story of a forgotten road in Northern France, where the footprints of Belgian Jews, forced into labour between 1942 and 1944, stand as a silent testament to suffering, resilience, and one survivor’s extraordinary journey from captivity to peace.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, “Le Chemin des Juifs: The Path Between Silence and Survival” revisits a little-known chapter of Holocaust history in Northern France. Along this quiet 4km road near Hardelot, Belgian Jews were forced into labour between 1942 and 1944 to build the Atlantic Wall. Among them was seventeen-year-old David Shentow of Antwerp. He had survived the Nazi occupation of Belgium, a forced-labour camp, the Auschwitz concentration camp, the Warsaw Ghetto, a death march and Dachau.

Through testimony, music, and memory, Le Chemin des Juifs becomes more than a place. It becomes a bridge between the past and our shared human conscience. David's vivid recounting of events, accompanied by expert interviews, archival footage, and a powerful original score by Patrick Savage, come together to show that this modest stretch of road stands not only as a physical remnant of history, but as a living testament to humanity’s enduring capacity for remembrance, resilience, and the unyielding search for peace.

Live Performance of Original Film Score 'Le Chemin Des Juifs' , film screening and live Q & A with director, Daniel Bhattacharya to follow.

About the Film

Le Chemin Des Juifs traces a hidden Holocaust story through the journey of survivor David Shentow. Deported at 17 to a French labour camp, he endured unimaginable suffering across Nazi camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau. His survival and testimony reveal a powerful story of resilience, remembrance, and the will to live.

About Daniel Bhattacharya

Daniel Bhattacharya is an internationally active performer, recording artist, director, and teacher whose career spans leading stages and studios worldwide. As a violinist, he has held principal positions with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He has performed with ensembles including the BBC Scottish Symphony, English National Opera, the Philharmonia, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. A prolific studio musician, he has contributed to more than 400 film soundtracks—ranging from The Lord of the Rings and Black Panther to Dunkirk—and collaborates frequently with composers such as Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, and Max Richter. Daniel’s artistic projects include a long-standing collaboration with composer and kora virtuoso Tunde Jegede, and his work as a filmmaker has been featured at major venues across the UK and Canada. His feature documentary Le chemin des juifs has been widely screened and is currently available on Amazon.

Hosted in partnership with the Calgary Jewish Federation's Holocaust and Human Rights: Remembrance and Education department, supported by the Balaban family, Krell family, Viewpoint Foundation, and donors to the Calgary Public Library Foundation.