This film is based on
a book by Artemis Joukowsky. The
Unitarian Association is looking for volunteers to go to Europe and help save
Jewish people from the Nazi regime.
Waitstill and Martha Sharp agree to commit to this dangerous mission. Waitstill is a minister in the Church
and Martha has trained as a social worker. They left their two young children, Hastings and Martha behind
in their hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts. They traveled by boat and train to Czechoslovakia in
February of 1939. War was about to
break out in Europe and Germany had invaded Czechoslovakia. The Sharp’s were trained to destroy all evidence of what
they were doing and to always be aware if they were followed. They were involved with the black
market, money laundering and clandestine transportation of refugees. They also organized the first mass
exodus of Jewish children to America without their parents.
Some of the
children who were saved were interviewed about leaving their parents and traveling
by train and boat. The adult son
and daughter of the Sharp’s are also interviewed about being left behind and the
work of their parents. The story
of what Waitstill and Martha did is very astonishing!! The one complaint I have about this film is they use the
same picture of Waitstill and Martha when they are telling about them. That gets old after a while to see the
same pictures over and over. Surely
there must be more pictures of the couple that could be used? Their journey took a toll on their
marriage and their children.
3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
90
min, Doc, Bio, War directed by Ken Burns, Artemis Joukowsky with Marina Goldman
(voice), Thom Hanks (voice)
Note: Imdb 7.2 out of 10, 100% critic 67%
audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 55 reviews, Metacritic
60 out of 100 with 3 critcs.
Special
Note: Filmed in Czech Republic;
England, UK; France; Israel; USA.
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