In May 1943, Jurek was arrested by the Nazis for partisan activities. After a cruel and lengthy investigation in Lvov, the Gestapo eventually discovered he was Jewish. Jurek was sent to Auschwitz. In the meantime, Stella’s only chance to survive was to volunteer for slave labor in Germany. This was the only way she could avoid being denounced to the Nazis by Poles looking for financial reward.

Jurek Kamieniecki’s love for Stella was the saving grace that strengthened him at the worst of times. Her letters filled with images of their future together made it possible for him to believe he could survive the unspeakable nightmare of Auschwitz.

After the liberation, Stella found her husband’s family. They told her Jurek was alive. She also knew he was looking for her. They had already arranged to meet when all of a sudden she disappeared. It turned out that she had left for the United States… as the wife of another man.

For nearly forty years Stella and Jurek had no contact with each other. Stella did not reply to Jurek’s letters or return his phone calls. Their first interaction was in 1982, when, as a citizen of Israel, Jurek nominated their Polish friend Janusz Malinowski for the medal of the Righteous Among the Nations. Although she still avoided personal contact, Stella supported the nomination made by her former husband.

Today, both Stella and Jurek live alone. They have both survived their life-partners. And they have since been in touch on the phone more often. Together they recall their life in Poland before the war, their town, their friends. But they refuse to ever speak of the war. Most importantly, Jurek is still haunted by the question: why did Stella leave?

Tell Me Why is a documentary film about love between two people, whose youth was interrupted by perhaps the most terrifying events in human history. It is also a story about an extraordinary feeling, which may have rescued them from death, but could never outshine the horrific shadow of the Shoah.

Is the time right now for Stella and Jurek to finally meet again?

Production locations: Poland (Warsaw, Otwock, Oswiecim (Auschwitz), Bialystok), USA (Boston), Israel (Tel Aviv) and Sinai.

Duration: 48 minutes