Troll Storm

Synopsis

Set in the heart of Whitefish, Montana, a seemingly idyllic ski town, antisemitic attacks against Tanya Gersh start soon after Donald Trump wins the presidential election. As the storm of online harassment intensifies, the Whitefish community is forced to confront the alarming local rise of far-right extremism. Tanya, overwhelmed by being the focal point of the attacks and at the threat of imminent danger, courageously takes a stand against hate, fear, and prejudice by filing a lawsuit against her perpetrators.

As Tanya attempts to understand and process what’s happening to her family, she finds in Holocaust survivor Stephen Jacobs’ story an uncanny parallel between the rise of white nationalism in the United States and the rise of fascism in Germany. Stephen’s historical perspective gives added significance to her fight and exposes Donald Trump’s promise to “Make America Great Again” as a thinly-veiled battle cry to return to a time when white supremacy thrived. Directed by Eunice Lau and produced by Brooke Swaney and Zachary Kerschberg, TROLL STORM chronicles the harrowing journey of a woman who transforms from a victim of cyber hate into a courageous advocate for justice and free speech. The documentary captures the spirit of resilience, the power of community, and the pursuit of justice in the face of adversity. By telling her story, Tanya renders visible the architecture of oppression that holds us down. More than ever, this film captures the zeitgeist of our present turmoil.

The production of TROLL STORM has been made possible through the generous support of the Montana Film Office and the Claims Conference. Their contributions have enabled the filmmakers to bring this important and timely story to audiences around the world.