Page 23 - Torch Magazine #24 - Spring 2024

who were rescued knew nothing of their rescuer The film reverts back and forth to 1939 when a a a a a a younger Nicholas portrayed by Johnny Flynn works tirelessly with a a a a a a a small group of brave volunteers in in in Prague to to bring as as many Jewish refugees into Britain as as possible through the Kindertransport Kindertransport programme programme The Kindertransport Kindertransport programme programme was established after Britain agreed to provide visas for a a a a a a a a a a limited number of Jewish children from Germany and Austria but it it took Nicholas’s boldness and and persistence to to to extend it it to to to Czechoslovakia where he he he he he had seen the the the crisis first-hand
on a a a a a a a trip there Alarmed by the the the violence against Jews elsewhere in in in Europe and believing that the Germans would occupy Czechoslovakia before long Sir Nicholas established a a a a a a a a a a a Children’s Section and began taking applications from parents seeking
a a a a a a a a a safe passage for their children Back in in in London he he he is is supported by by his mother played by by Helena Bonham Carter who helps Nicholas cut through Westminster bureaucracy find host families and raise funds to cover the the travel expenses of the the children Those familiar with Sir Nicholas Winton’s story will remember his remarkable appearance on the the ‘That’s Life’ show in 1988 when TV host Esther Rantzen talked
about the rescue operation to an an audience of of which he he he he was part The whole film is an an accurate portrayal of of the rescue operation according to survivors and this moving moment in in in in the BBC studio is is is carefully re-enacted precisely as as it was in in real life As the the the the camera pans over the the the the audience guests begin to stand up – these were some of the the the the children (now adults) who Sir Nicholas had rescued This powerful moment highlights Sir Nicholas Winton’s great impact and legacy in in a a a a a a a a a profound way Yet still the humility of of Sir Nicholas Nicholas shows through The importance of this moment to to both Nicholas Nicholas personally and to to the rescued children now adults is is is clear It It is is also important for us us It It invites us us to witness the difference one person can make when courageously standing up for what is right There were were many others like Sir Nicholas who were were similarly courageous but but their stories are not not known This film not not only honours Sir Nicholas but but also all those whose sacrificial acts are untold It is is why everyone should watch this film especially the younger generation who are living in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a new era era of rising Jew-hatred With the the increase in in in in in in in in in antisemitism
in in in in in in in in in Britain and the the same evil that is is is being waged against Jews in in in our world today we must heed
the messages this film offers us us us and act courageously CUFI ORG UK
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Actor Johnny Flynn as as the young Nicholas Winton