Anna Strishkowa knew she was a Holocaust survivor, but she knew little else about her life. Strishkowa is an 84-year-old microbiologist from Kyiv, Ukraine. In 1943 she was registered as a prisoner at Auschwitz. She was eventually liberated by the Russian army. Her adoptive parents tried to hide her past, thinking it would spare her from trauma. Instead, it made searching for information on her childhood and early years frustrating and difficult.
That changed when Luigi Toscano came to her aid. Toscano is a German Italian filmmaker and photographer who created the “Lest We Forget” Holocaust survivor exhibit which opens April 16 at The District in Chesterfield. Strishkowa’s story is captured in Toscano’s documentary “Black Sugar Red Blood.” The film will be shown at Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, April 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Toscano told the Jewish Light when he started his Holocaust awareness and education project 10 years ago, Strishkowa was one of the first survivors he met.
“I remember she told me her story and I was really touched,” Toscano said. “She told me she tried to find out where she came from and after all those years, she found no answer. Then three years ago I decided to learn her story.”
Strishkowa initially told him no. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to learn about her past. She thought he would have no success.
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“Her daughter Olga said to Anna, ‘Please mama, let Luigi try, because it might be our last chance,’” he remembered. “I was very fortunate because so many people were willing to help me and were motivated to find more information.”
“Black Sugar Red Blood” has been recognized in 18 film festivals, including the best documentary category in the 2024 Berlin Kiez Film Festival and best documentary in the Denver Movie Awards. Toscano said he considers the film one of the most important works of his career.
“Everybody who has seen the film thanks me because it is a beautiful story,” he said. “And the story didn’t end. Anna is still alive she’s doing well.”
There is no charge to attend the screening of “Black Sugar Red Blood,” and registration is not required. Following the film, Toscano will discuss the work with the audience.
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