Rod Riffler
Rod Riffler with Magdalena Bachrach (Miss Rab 35') in 1935
Born
Rudolf Ungar

(1907-01-05)5 January 1907
Osijek, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary
Died1941 (aged 34)
Jasenovac, Independent State of Croatia
Cause of deathStarvation
NationalityCroat
Occupation(s)Dance teacher, choreographer

Rod Riffler (born Rudolf Ungar; 5 January 1907 – 1941) was a Croatian modern dance teacher, choreographer and owner of a dance school in Zagreb, who was killed during the Holocaust.[1][2][3]

Riffler was born in Osijek to Jewish parents, Makso Ungar and Ilka Lang. His father was merchant born in Osijek. Riffler was raised with two sisters, Marie Louise and Marija, and younger brother, Rafael. When he moved from Osijek to Zagreb, Riffler opened a dance school and was one of the best teachers of modern dance at the time. Riffler was mentor-teacher of Lea Deutsch, known Croatian Jewish child actress, and was a close friend of Deutsch's mother, Ivka. In 1941, when Ustashas found out that he was Jewish and gay, Riffler was arrested and deported to the Jasenovac concentration camp. Riffler died from starvation at the camp. He was 34 years old.[1][2][4][5][6]

In 2010, Croatian director Branko Ivanda made a film Lea and Darija, about the tragic destiny of Lea Deutsch, and Riffler was portrayed in the movie by Croatian actor Radovan Ruždjak.

References

  1. 1 2 Nina Ožegović (14 February 2012). "Simbol tragedije Židova u Hrvatskoj" [Symbol of tragedy of Jews in Croatia] (in Croatian). Nacional. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 Klara Rožman (4 February 2010). "Zrinka Cvitešić i Ana Vilenica u filmu o 'hrvatskoj Shirley Temple'" (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Nova sapunica dekana Akademije" (in Croatian). Nacional. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Mathias Hannau. "Rod Riffler" (in Croatian). El Mundo Safarad. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  5. ↑ (in Croatian) Ha-Kol (Glasilo Židovske zajednice u Hrvatskoj); Relja Bašić, Nataša Barac; Nova kazališna scena u Židovskoj općini Zagreb; stranica 8; broj 107, studeni/prosinac 2008.
  6. ↑ Marija Lokas (6 February 2009). "Tragična priča junakinja bit će prepuna pjesme i plesa" (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
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