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An „Aryan“-looking Jewish lady spies on the third Reich for the French army!

After the war, she doesn't speak to anyone about her experiences. Now, 60 years later, she tours around the world with her life story.

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Only 1,40 meters of size and snow-white hair: That is Marthe Hoffnung Cohn. She is a superstar among the „WWII-witnesses“, she is living history. Her lectures are booked out, the organizers kiss her hand and her Facebook posts get thousands of „likes“.

Marthe story sounds entertaining and is prepped with punchlines, she had not let tragedy rule her life: Four years, she flees from the Nazis throughout France. After the liberation of Paris, she enrolls in the French army to contribute officially to the fight against the Nazis, who killed her fiance and sister. Due to her German skills, Marthe is transferred to the French Secret Service and is smuggled into enemy's country where she provides important information about German troop movements and helps to shorten the war.

Then, Marthe remains silent for 60 years. Now, at the age of 97, she tours around the world with her life story in an almost obsessive way. Marthe has a new mission, a message to spread: “It's always possible to fight injustice.”

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Marthe was brought up in a large Jewish family in Metz (Lorraine). In 1939 her family flees to Poitiers and in 1942 further to the South of France. During this time her fiance gets shot by the Nazis and her sister is deported. After the liberation of Paris in 1944, Marthe enlists as a nurse for the French army. When her German skills are discovered, she is transferred to the French Secret Service and sent to Germany. After 13 failed attempts, she finally manages to cross the border. To stay undercover, she assimilates with the enemy.

Her investigations about German troop movements finally help to shorten the war and Charles de Gaulles rewards her for her achievements. After the war, Marthe meets the striving doctor Major L. Cohn. The couple moves to the USA in 1956, where they get married and have two children.

For 60 years she keeps quiet about her past. After receiving the French „Medaille Militaire“ in 2000, she publishes an autobiography and starts traveling around the world to tell her story.

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The film consists of three entwining and alternating storylines:

The first layer shows Marthes public appearance. This includes her lectures, her interaction with the audience, her invitations, and honors. Additionally, private situations will expand insight beyond the public figure. Marthe talks in everyday conversations about her past. These are moments when the live action image turns into animated scenes to illustrate the narrative.

The animation will be the second layer. It visualizes the significant pathways in the protagonist's life. Through the animation, Marthe's stories will be transformed into the present.

The third layer contains footage of calm and personal interview situations. By looking into her face and the vivid eyes, the audience will get another perspective on Marthe's personality.

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The animation technique uses a mixed material method combining hand drawn figures with oil and acrylic paint, worked on with the images of Marthe's past. The animation takes Marthe's memory and the historical layer of the film and develops into moving images. Marthe's experiences and the connected feelings like fear, humiliation, anger, and bravery get beyond the historical context and become “timeless”.

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An Unusual Spy