Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
PG | 15 September 2000 (USA)
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In the nine months prior to World War II, 10.000 innocent children left behind their families, their homes, their childhood, and took the journey... to Britain to escape the Nazi Holocaust.

Reviews
Linbeymusol

Wonderful character development!

Titreenp

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

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Exoticalot

People are voting emotionally.

SunnyHello

Nice effects though.

doxazo

This effort will not be for everyone. But if you have a desire in life to see right prevail, to see what is good, and if you live a life of love, then you will cherish this movie. I got this movie from the local library on a lark, and immediately following the end, I went on line and ordered it. It is very well done. The producers and directors here did a perfect job. If you are looking for sex and violence, this is not for you. But if you want to learn and be truly enriched in your life, then this offering is just the ticket. I am not Jewish but after watching this I feel as if I had been born Jewish. This movie has filled a space in my heart I was not aware of. I Cr 13;8a

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scotty-37

I caught this movie on a local PBS station one night as I was flipping through channels while waiting for some friends. I had to watch the rest after seeing only a little. This is a good documentary--nothing too flashy or innovative in the making--but stunning because of the material.Maybe it struck a chord with me because of resonances and trauma in my own childhood--but I think it's more than that. Look at children's books (and books about children) and a lot addresses themes of orphanage, abandonment, loss of parents and related issues (from Roald Dahl or Charles Dickens, for example). This documentary strikes these themes head on with real stories. It's hard not to be moved by the vulnerability of children in such dire circumstances.The stories are both heart breaking and heart warming and will make you wonder how such cruelty and evil could exist to create these events in the life of a child. On the other hand, many ordinary people rose to the occasion and did something heroic to help these vulnerable, often orphaned children of World War II.This is a wonderful and painful film to watch because of the stories of the now grown children. I'll mention a few examples (**spoilers**), so if it's going to bother you to have a bit of a preview, don't read on.One boy, after being placed with a family in England for 6 or 7 years during WWII, finally got the miracle of meeting his parents again after they had somehow come through the war. He no longer spoke the same language (English, not German), felt uncomfortable and awkward even meeting them again because they no longer seemed like the same people. It was a wonderful and painful reunion.Most kindertransport children were not so lucky, waited years for their parents to find them after the war, and then discovered that the reunion would never take place. Still waiting with an empty spot in their hearts.Some evacuee children tried bringing their parents to England before emigration from Germany was shut down by the Nazis. One girl tells of looking for the large, wealthy homes, going door to door, and begging the occupants to give her parents a job so that they would be granted visas by the British government.Some of these children (who initially spoke little English) were treated well, adopted and loved in new families. Many were taken care of but were moved from one foster home to another, and some had horrible experiences such as being sent to families who wanted to use them as servants (uniforms and all) rather than treating them with respect or care.I've seen a lot of different films and documentaries about Nazi Germany over the years, but I'm not particularly moved by many of them since they don't always personalize the experience. Many of these types of films just leave me numb afterward and though I appreciate and understand the horror, these films often leave me relatively unmoved and mostly just horrified.I'd recommend watching this documentary even if you don't like the typical Nazi Germany documentary. This isn't only about a historical event, but about vulnerability, evil, heroism, desperation, grief and a kind of redemption. The themes are reflected in the personal stories of children brought to a foreign land without their parents. I doubt most people could come away from this movie feeling unmoved or unchanged by the experience in some way. In other words, see this documentary. You won't regret it.

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ruthgee

I watched this movie the other night and found it most moving. I think it should be widely shown as very few people know of the Kindertransport. The documentary is well done and tells a wonderful story of survival. It was such a pity that no other country, other than England, helped to save these children. I highly recommend everyone to see it, as it is a part of our history.

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marlaok

This film continues to haunt me. With such delicacy, honesty, and poignancy, the great tragic horror of the holocaust is brought home to us on a human scale from a child's vantage point. Each unique story is told with such quiet strength and dignity. It is not only what is said, but what is not said, that is so moving. It would have been so easy to over-sentimentalize or shock, yet this film navigates through the emotional landscape with compassion and sensitivity. The voices are wise, direct and articulate on the surface, but just below, there are complex layers of remembrance, guilt, shame, grief, rage, fear, loss, despair, sadness, faith, relief and hope.The interweaving of the past and present, black and white and colour, child and adult, is crafted with great skill. The musical score is a perfect counterpoint to the unfolding drama. There is not one false note, not one. Everything is presented with a remarkable aesthetic and thoughtfulness.No other holocaust documentary has had a greater impact on me. As a grownup 'child' and now as a mother, I will think about this film for a very long time to come.

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