Born in Budapest during World War II, Marianne Miller survived the Holocaust thanks to her mother’s desperate act of bribing a Hungarian Nazi soldier with a gold ring. Her remarkable story is now brought to life by her son, renowned Israeli director and artist Adir Miller, in the film The Ring, which premiered at the Opera Theater in Tirana.

“Budapest persecuted Jews, while here [in Albania], everyone helped them, and no one betrayed them. Sadly, my family wasn’t fortunate enough to be in Albania. Many of them were murdered and thrown into the Danube,” Miller shared during the event.

The premiere was attended by Israeli Ambassador to Albania Galit Peleg and Minister Blendi Gonxhja, who underscored the importance of Holocaust remembrance. “Eighty years later, telling the story of the Holocaust remains a challenge. We must pass this history on to all generations. Today, we’ve reached the fifth generation of survivors, and it’s vital that everyone knows these stories,” Ambassador Peleg noted. Minister Gonxhja added, “In a world where history is often forgotten or misunderstood, art and film serve as powerful tools to reflect on our shared past and inspire meaningful discussions about the future.”

Filmed in Israel and Hungary, The Ring recreates 1940s Europe by weaving together personal memories and historical events. As his mother’s health deteriorates, Miller embarks on an emotional journey to her birthplace in Budapest in search of the ring that once saved her life.

Known as Israel’s most beloved stand-up comedian and comic actor, Adir Miller skillfully blends drama with humor in The Ring, offering a poignant yet relatable portrayal of Jewish survival. Following its Tel Aviv premiere, the film will screen in New York on January 28, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation.

/k.s/