Movie spotlight
The Power of Good: Nicholas Winton
A gripping documentary about the courage and determination of a young English stockbroker who saved the lives of 669 children. Between March 13 and August 2, 1939, Nicholas Winton organized 8 transports to take children from Prague to new homes in Great Britain, and kept quiet about it until his wife discovered a scrapbook documenting his unique mission in 1988. Winton was a successful 29-year-old stockbroker in London who "had an intuition" about the fate of the Jews when he visited Prague in 1939. He quietly but decisively got down to the business of saving lives. We learn how only two countries, Sweden and Britain, answered his call to harbor the young refugees; how documents had to be forged and how once foster parents signed for the children on delivery, that was the last he saw of them.
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary tells the incredible true story of Sir Nicholas Winton, a British humanitarian who organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children, most of them Jewish, from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II. Winton's efforts, largely unknown for decades, involved arranging trains to transport these children to safety in Great Britain, where they were fostered by British families.
Critical Reception
The film was widely acclaimed for its deeply moving portrayal of Nicholas Winton's humanitarian efforts and the profound impact of his actions. Critics lauded its historical significance, emotional resonance, and the inspiring story of a man who selflessly saved hundreds of lives.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its powerful and inspiring true story of heroism.
Commended for shedding light on a significant yet largely unknown act of wartime rescue.
Emotionally impactful and a testament to individual courage.
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Awards & Accolades
Winner of the Audience Award at the 2002 Locarno International Film Festival. Nominated for Best Documentary at the 2002 Czech Lion Awards.
Fun Fact
Nicholas Winton's role in saving the children was only discovered in 1988 when his wife Grete found a suitcase containing lists of the children and their foster parents.
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