1. Directed by
GORDON QUINN
Produced by
HOWARD RIECH
Produced from 2004-2009
Prisoner of Her Past

2. Sonia Reich, a survivor of the Holocaust begins to
suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at
the age of 69, years after the end of the Holocaust.
Her son, Howard Reich goes on a journey to figure
out why this is happening to his mother.
Sonia’s Story
Sonia Reich
Howard Reich

3. On February 15, 2001 Sonia ran out of her house. She
thought that someone was going to put a bullet in
her head.
To this day Sonia believes that everyone is out to get
her.

4. No one really knows what caused this, the only
answer is PTSD. Dementia and Alzheimer's disease
have been ruled out.
Sonia does not even recognize photos of herself as a
child in the Holocaust.
Here is a picture of Sonia, her response to the picture
was, who is that, a monkey?
Sonia as a little girl

5. Quinn’s Message
Sonia is living her life with PTSD, the film shows her
suffering with this disorder. Quinn’s goal is to bring
awareness of the effects of PTSD.
Quinn brings awareness about Sonia’s health by using
people that were around her during the Holocaust.
Central Message

6. Quinn shows that not every person has the same
reaction to a tragedy.
Males and females experience the same event in
different ways.
Men may deal with these experiences differently than
women.
Central Message

7. Quinn's final message in the film involves survivors
from hurricane Katrina.
Quinn depicts the female survivors who are
experiencing PTSD post hurricane Katrina.
Central Message

8. The girl survivors were only 12 or 14 and are getting
help right away.
It does not matter when or where, PTSD can occur and
it is important to treat PTSD at an early age.
Central Message
Hurricane Katrina’s PTSD
victims

9. Communicating Sonia’s Message
Quinn’s use of sources and personal experiences
communicated Sonia’s message.
The paused frames and the interactions between
Sonia and Howard showed the importance of
understanding PTSD.
Communicating Message

10. Reliving the past in her own words, Sonia moves your
heart.
Opening the film with, “They’re going to put a bullet in
my head”. Was a powerful hook.
An effective appeal to emotions was used.
Communicating Message

11. Using her cousin Leon to compare and contrast the
same things they went through brings the message
alive.
Leon remembered the Holocaust, but his memories
have not caused him to experience PTSD.
Communicating Message
A picture of Sonia
and Leon before the
war

12. When Leon visited Sonia, she did not remember him.
PSTD has caused Sonia not to recognize a close family
member.
The story of Leon and Sonia is a powerful one that has
helped Howard become informed about Sonia’s
health.
Communicating Message
Sonia doesn't
remember Leon.
Howard is trying to
help Sonia remember
him

13. Viewers Response to Sonia
It is an eye-opening experience to understand the
significance of PTSD.
The reality is PTSD can affect someone over 40 years
later.
Viewers Response

14. Understanding how the viewer can help PTSD
survivors.
The sooner a loved one gets help, the better the
outcome will be.
This is a present day issue, PTSD is real.
Viewers Response

15. You can help change that.
Viewers Response

16. Sonia’s Supporters
Quinn used people that were close to Sonia to find the
answers to Howard’s questions.
Quinn gave Sonia a voice through her son Howard.
Sources
Howard and his mom,
looking through old
photos trying to see if
she can remember
anything.

17. Sources
In addition to personal stories from her son and
daughter; Quinn follows Leon, a cousin of Sonia, who
witnessed the Holocaust with her.
Leon

18. Psychiatrists were used to analyze the differences of
Sonia and Leon.
Psychiatrists brought a professional opinion that can
be reliable.
Sonia’s supporters are trying to help her survive her
difficult times.
Sources
Sonia lives in a nursing
home due to her PTSD

19. Is truth dependent upon place,
culture and time?
Quinn and Howard have shown that truth depends on
place, time and culture.
Sonia experienced the Holocaust in a different way
then Leon.
Place, Culture, Time

20. Sonia cannot even remember Leon, and feels she is
under attack. Leon is working to cope with what
happened and move forward in his life.
Leon and Sonia were both in the same place at the
same time, but both remember the Holocaust in a
different way.
Place, Culture, Time

21. What is the role of an individual in the
Modern World?
Howard Reich has used his role in society to inform the
viewer of the past, and how it applies to the present.
Modern World

22. His mother’s story shows the importance of her story
and the effects of PTSD.
Howard has taken responsibility to inform the viewer
and to start to make a difference for the future.
Modern World

23. How have human choices had a
local and global impact?
Quinn’s and Howard’s choice of creating this movie
has impacted everyone that has viewed it.
Global Impact

24. Viewers have taken the movie’s message to heart.
The message is current for people around the world, it
is relatable.
Victims of tsunamis, earthquakes, famine, disease and
war are all susceptible to PTSD.
Global Impact

25. Sonia’s Secrets
What really happened to Sonia during the Holocaust?
Why didn’t she get help sooner?
Did Sonia really survive the Holocaust?
Unanswered Questions

26. How can PTSD change a person so
much that they cannot recognize a
family member?
Will Sonia ever remember Leon?
Unanswered Questions

27. Sonia’s story has inspired others to help other survivors
who are experiencing PTSD. Sonia was not
diagnosed with PTSD until an advanced age and it
is important to get survivors help sooner. With all of
the Veterans returning from Iraq, PTSD is a serious
problem.
New Thought

28. On average 1in 8 returning soldiers
from Iraq suffer from post
traumatic stress disorder.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5334479/ns/health-mental_health
New Thought

29. The best solution for managing PTSD is talking to a
therapist.
The sooner the better!
New Thought

30. The sooner you help the veterans, the
better chance of their survival.

31. Sonia’s Story
To watch the trailer of Prisoner of Her Past click here
Sonia’s Story
Trailer
Presented By:
Madeline Franz