Delayed Rays of a Star by Amanda Lee Koe

Author:Amanda Lee Koe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2019-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

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Hans Haas kept his voice gentle when he corralled the Roma and Sinti extras together in the mornings. He felt bad that they would stop talking whenever any of the film crew was within earshot, even though no one on set understood Romani. The extras could speak German fluently, too, but they did not use it among themselves, and in general they did not speak with the guards or crew unless necessary.

Most of them tried to avoid eye contact with Hans Haas, but the girl who’d played Miss Riefenstahl’s body double had grown bolder than the rest after being singled out for that scene. Hans Haas had been the one leading the dappled gray back to its mark as they went for multiple takes. Waiting beyond the frame, she’d asked him quite casually in German: And if the horse throws me? Not knowing how else to answer, he reassured her: I’m sure you’ll be fine. She gave him a haughty smirk that made her look very pretty, especially in Miss Riefenstahl’s gypsy costume, as she mounted the horse and looked straight ahead, waiting for their cue. The horse reared in one of the takes, but the girl kept her wits about her and they managed to continue shooting the scene at various speeds, till Miss Riefenstahl was satisfied. Wonderful job, Hans Haas heard her say to the body double, you’re such a natural!

In the mornings, when Hans Haas came for roll call and to take them to the holding pen for breakfast, she held his gaze steadily, nodding at him as he passed them by.

She was the one who’d asked the line producer if they might be allowed to sing.

When permission came back in the positive, Hans Haas supplied them a little handbell he’d found in the supply shed, which made them so happy. The body double thanked Hans Haas, and he saw her eyes soften for a moment. That’s no problem at all, he said, staying a while to listen. Without instruments, the extras layered their chesty vocals one over the other. Hans Haas could feel their song in his gut, although he did not understand the words.

Another time, the body double asked Hans Haas: How long more will the shoot last for?

I’m not sure, Hans Haas said, I am on a temporary contract myself.

Could you ask someone who might know? the body double said. Hans Haas agreed to help find out. Without saying it is I who wishes to know, she added. Once the words left her lips she looked like she regretted them, as if she had disclosed a weakness best kept private. Hans Haas did not see what she was worried about and tried to reassure her, but she shook her head. At lunch the next day he asked the line producer. The line producer did not answer, but he held up crossed fingers. No one can be sure, Hans Haas reported to the body double, but it is hoped that the shoot will go on till the war ends.

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