The Journey Back: A Virtual Reality Experience

A VIRTUAL REALITY TRAVELING EXHIBITION CREATED BY ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION COMPANY EAST CITY FILMS.

THE EXPERIENCE

The Journey Back is a groundbreaking suite of three VR films: Letters from Drancy, Walk to Westerbork, and Escape to Shanghai. Produced in partnership with East City Films, this exhibition transforms the act of bearing witness into an active, spatial experience.

Audiences journey alongside Survivors Marion, Rodi, and Doris as they revisit childhood homes, trace the paths of concentration camps, and stand in former places of hiding. Three captivating stories engage viewers with the Holocaust through a profound human dimension that transcends traditional media.

This page is for The Journey Back traveling exhibition. Click here for The Journey Back as Mobile VR Teaching Trunks.

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

The production utilizes a sophisticated blend of immersive storytelling tools to bridge the gap between past and present.

• Global Production: Footage filmed in the Netherlands, Germany, France, China, and the United States creates an engaging, story-driven landscape
• Volumetric & 3D Environments: Meticulously reconstructed historical sites create a greater authentic atmosphere
• Motion Capture & Animation: Artistic renderings enhance narrative flow and emotional resonance of Survivor testimonies
• Spatial Soundtrack: 360-degree audio landscapes anchor viewers in their environment, making every footstep and whisper feel immediate

GLOBAL RECOGNITION

The Journey Back has been recognized by the world’s most prestigious film and technology programs, cementing its status as a masterpiece of immersive non-fiction:

CONTENTS

• 360-degree video digital file(s) of 3 VR films (available with German, French, or Spanish subtitles)
• Digital file(s) of 3 VR intro films
• Digital files of overview and film exhibition panels (optional)

Equipment Provision: For U.S. domestic venues the Museum provides full “turnkey” hardware, including VR headsets (10 or 20) and iPad control interface allowing for synchronous viewing. For international sites, the Museum will provide a detailed hardware manifest and can offer advisory support on sourcing equivalent equipment from in-country providers.

PREVIOUSLY DISPLAYED AT

Alabama Holocaust Education Center, Birmingham, AL

American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA

Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL

National Jewish Retreat, Brooklyn, NY

Nevada Center for Humanity. Las Vegas, NV

Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët Town Hall, France

University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

University of Sussex, Brighton, UK

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, UK