Private Project

They Survived Together

“They Survived Together” is the story of the incredible escape and survival of the Neiger family from certain death by Nazis in the Krakow Ghetto - with four small children!

(One of the only families to escape and survive together as an intact family).

  • John Rokosny
    Director
    "7th Inning Stretch", "The Last Poets"
  • John Rokosny
    Producer
    "7th Inning Stretch", "The Last Poets"
  • Andriette Redmann
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - John Rokosny

John Rokosny began his career at Doug Wyles Productions in 1991, starting as a Production Assistant and working his way to Producer / Director in a few short years. John worked on hundreds of Radio and TV PSAs with all the top stars of Film, Music, Television, Sports and Politics.

In 1995, John became the Producer of Celebrity Interview show called, Quiet Triumphs starring Mary Alice Williams for the Odyssey / Hallmark Network. John produced 100 episodes, and the series was made into a book, and was featured on the Oprah Winfrey show.

In 2000, John formed his own production company called New York Music & Video. John has produced two feature documentaries for Television, "The Last Poets" for Bravo Network, and "7th Inning Stretch" for ESPN. the latter featured Bruce Springsteen among many other baseball and Rock n Roll stars.

John continues his work in non-profit advertising with his work for Children's Health Fund (co-founded by Paul Simon and Dr. Irwin Redlener) Ronald McDonald House Charities, NYSPCC, and many others around the US. John's films have been screened at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square Jumbo-tron, the Ziegfeld Theater for the Star Wars NYC premiere, the Waldorf Astoria, and many other venues in NYC.

John has also directed for many corporations, including Seventh Generation, Chex, Valvoline, Quikset, McDonalds Corp, ACE, Cheerios, and many more.

Currently, John is working on his own documentary called, "They Survived Together", about the Neiger family and their incredible escape from certain death by the Nazis in the Krakow Ghetto.

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Director Statement

As soon as I met the Neiger family, and heard their incredible story, I knew I had to make this film.

I was so moved by their story, I was brought to tears. My goal is to honor their journey.

I want to create a film that will tell the story of one family, in their own words, as a voice for every family who went through this atrocity – and to honor those who survived, and remember, with deep reverence, those who did not.

I want to share this story so it will never be forgotten.

“They Survived Together” is a story of endurance, unity and hope.

“They Survived Together ” is the incredible, true story of the survival of the Neiger family, as they desperately try to stay together as a family while escaping the Nazi invasion of Poland.

The Neigers were living a peaceful life in a tight-knit Jewish community in Krakow when the arrival of World War II changed their life forever.

When Nazi soldiers forced the Neiger family from their home and into the harsh life of the Ghetto, they made a vow to escape together and survive as a family.

The family was able to stick together, from their daring escape from the Ghetto, through arduous treks through snow-covered mountains, to illegal border crossings, and brutal work camps.

But when circumstances forced the family to separate from their older brother Ben, the family’s will to survive was put to the test.

Siblings Cesia, Benjamin, Hanka, Basia, and Tosia remained together as a family well into their senior years, supporting each other while dealing with the horrors of the memory of the Holocaust.