Into the Arms of Strangers

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This Academy Award®-winning documentary (produced with the cooperation of the United States Holocaust Museum) chronicles one of the lesser-known stories of the Holocaust: that of the kindertransport, which saved the lives of 10,000 Jewish children. In the late 1930s, England agreed to accept these children seeking refuge from Nazi oppression. They were placed in foster homes and hostels. Narrated by Dame Judi Dench and directed by Mark Jonathan Harris (who received an Oscar® for his 1997 Holocaust documentary The Long Way Home), this devastating and deeply moving film bears witness to the kindness of these “simply wonderful people” and to the resilience of the kinder, now elderly, who recall in haunting stories the unimaginable grief of being suddenly torn from their parents, the trauma of not knowing whether they would ever see them again, and the difficulties some faced in their new homes. Recalls one, “None of the foster parents with whom I stayed could stand me for very long. But all of them had the grace to take in a Jewish child.” But despite having their youth uprooted, many possess an indomitable spirit. One woman speaks of devoting her adult life to human rights and social justice causes. “I can’t pay back or thank some of the people who helped me,” she states, “But I can do something for other people.” —Donald Liebenson

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Winner of the 2001 Oscar for Best Documentary, Into The Arms Of Strangers attempts to expose and understand one of the forgotten travesties of WWII. While the evacuation of British children during the Second World War has become the stuff of legend, the rescue of 10,000 Jewish children from Germany is less well known. This programme of “kindertransport” was to provide a vital escape route to England for many children, but would also leave many heartbroken families behind to face an uncertain future at the hands of the Nazis. Told mainly in the first person by those who made the journey, this American produced documentary is a moving testament to the most innocent victims—one and a half million children perished in the Holocaust.

We may have become used to tales of Nazi’s brutality in the 21st century, but it is always shocking to see the emotions that still run deep for those who experienced and survived these events first hand. As the story—narrated by Dame Judi Dench—unfolds it becomes clear that although the kindertransport was one of the great humanitarian efforts of the 20th century it was not without its flaws, none more so than the internment and repatriation of many of the evacuees that followed once war with Germany was declared. A very real historical document, Into The Arms Of Strangers is highly recommended for those looking to delve a little deeper into the travesties of War. —Phil Udell