‘Where Hands Touch’ review: Amandla Sternberg shines in this unique take on an untold story in Nazi Germany during World War II
Most stories about the Holocaust tell the tales of Jewish families tortured and destroyed by Nazi Germany. However ‘Where Hands Touch’ is a different take on one of the most despicable times in human history. ‘Where Hands Touch’ is the story of a biracial German 15-year-old girl constantly living in fear, as the Nazi’s didn’t just target Jews but anyone who was not part of the Aryan race, especially individuals that were black. This is a story not just about survival and fear, but also of forbidden love and the power of family.
Starring Amandla Sternberg as Leyna, the daughter of a black African father who died before she was born and a white German mother (played by Abbie Cornish) who has devoted her life to protect her child from the ever-growing racism surrounding WWII. Leyna, her mother and little brother are in constant fear of Leyna being taken away due to the color of her skin. Because of her mother’s choice to have Leyna, she has been shunned by her family and is left with little resources to keep her daughter safe.