The Book of Leah tells a story about persevering despite trauma, and the strength and indestructibility of the human spirit, from one generation to the next. In 2022, 77 years after the Holocaust, we face the challenge of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive, but it is an important memory to keep, and film, as a media, can do it better than anything else. The Book of Leah , directed by Charlie Matthau, tells the story of a teenage rape victim who rebuilds herself as a karate fighter and seeks revenge on her attacker.
Brianna Joy Chomer plays Leah Gold, who after sneaking into a night club with her friends, is sexually assaulted in 1980s Chicago. The police do not take her case seriously, trying to blame Leah for being a minor, and the way she dressed. Her high-class family, embarrassed by the incident, sends Leah to a girls school, where she ultimately meets her cousin, played by four-time Golden Globe nominee Armand Assante, who is a Holocaust survivor.
In the end, with the help and guidance of her cousin Adam, Leah is able to once again find peace and happiness in her life. In climbing back into the light, she also helps her cousin Adam to finally come to terms with his horrific Holocaust memories. Together, they find ways to carry on and live their lives the best that they can. Their memories will never fade, and will never be forgotten, but they end up living life to the fullest, and finally find their way to inner peace and happiness.
It is my intention to complete post-production and to bring The Book of Leah to film festivals with the goal of marketing the film for distribution both domestically and internationally. The Book of Leah is a message film. One of my main reasons for writing The Book of Leah was to help keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and to teach audiences about the victim-blaming aspect of rape. The Book of Leah was inspired by true stories from my own life.
--Leslie R. Neilan
Learn More: https://bookofleah.wordpress.com/