Temple B’Nai Abraham will host a screening of Only a Number, an hour-long documentary by filmmaker Steven Besserman, on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m.
The film tells the story of Besserman’s parents, Aranka and Josef, who fell in love across the barbed wire fence of a concentration camp, despite not sharing a common language, as they endured the horrors of torture and starvation.
A discussion with Besserman will follow the screening. Temple B’Nai Abraham is located at 58 Crosswicks St. in Bordentown.
Besserman’s passion for documentary storytelling began with his quest to capture his parents’ survival of the Holocaust.
In 2010, the Hamilton Township resident founded AriJoe Productions to bring their love story to the screen. Only a Number went on to win Best Feature Documentary at the Jersey Shore Film Festival in 2011 and the New Hope Film Festival in 2012.
The film has been broadcast on PBS stations nationwide and is part of the curriculum in New Jersey schools through the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education.
As Chief Storyteller of AriJoe Productions, Besserman has created documentaries for individuals, businesses, and nonprofits, using visual storytelling to preserve their histories and highlight their work. He is known for high production values, expert editing, and a commitment to telling meaningful stories.
Like his parents’ story, Besserman says that every family deserves to have its history recorded and shared.
“There are no ordinary lives,” Besserman says. “Recording a life story is a journey back in time, a window into the past. That is why I offer a free consultation and provide clients with a detailed estimate for their personal documentary. While capturing memories for generations to come is priceless, I keep the actual cost very affordable.”
Known for high production values, including expert editing, specifically selected music, and personalized settings, AriJoe Productions provides quality films that elevate their subjects in a way that videos and home-movies never could.
“It’s all about the story,” Besserman says. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, a film is worth a thousand pictures.”
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