The Rescuers

Synopsis

The Rescuers, a documentary produced by Joyce D. Mandell and directed by Michael W. King, sheds light on the untold stories of 12 courageous diplomats who, at considerable personal risk, saved tens of thousands of Jews during World War II. The film follows Stephanie Nyombayire, a young activist from Rwanda who lost 100 family members in the Rwandan genocide, and Sir Martin Gilbert, a prominent historian specializing in the 20th century and the Holocaust, as they travel through 15 countries and three continents to interview survivors and descendants of the diplomats. Nyombayire and Gilbert explore the concepts of "the enigma of kindness" and "ethical bravery amid peril" while considering past atrocities, aiming to understand what actions should be taken to halt ongoing genocides such as the one in Darfur.

During World War II, many non-Jewish diplomats defied their governments, sacrificing their careers, families, and livelihoods to save people they had no personal connection with. Their actions compel us to contemplate the enigma of altruism. What motivates an individual to do what is right, regardless of potential repercussions? What drives someone to act with integrity and kindness, disregarding recognition or compensation, solely because their inner values urge them to, at any cost and through any means necessary?

The film incorporates archival footage and combines documentary elements with dramatic re-enactments, transporting audiences from Sir Martin's library in London to the streets of the Champs-Élysées in Paris and then to the Sacred Valley of Destroyed Communities at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Survivors and descendants of the diplomats continue to be interviewed in Germany, Denmark, France, Poland, Lithuania, and ultimately Budapest, where the largest diplomatic rescue operation in history took place.

Throughout the documentary, Nyombayire confronts challenging realities. She interviews Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire, the former Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Rwanda. Dallaire expresses the U.N.'s stance, stating, "When the genocide began, my mandate as a U.N. Peacekeeper was over. There was reluctance to engage in another operation in Africa, following the recent debacle in Somalia. The U.N. was hesitant about getting involved in another complex African issue and was trying to contain costs. The hope was that the situation would resolve itself. Consequently, it meant that Rwanda and Black Africa were not a priority.”

The film depicts a range of individuals involved in aiding victims during the 1944 genocide, including diplomats such as German Georg F. Duckwitz in Copenhagen, Americans Varian Fry and Hiram Bingham in Marseilles, Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara and the Dutch Jan Zwartendijk in Kaunas, Turkish Consul Selahattin Ulkumen in Rhodes, British Captain Frank Foley in Berlin, Polish diplomat Henryk Slawik in Budapest, and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who collaborated with Archbishop Angelo Rotta of the Vatican to coordinate Rescue efforts. Notably, the film also features the involvement of Consul Carl Lutz of Switzerland and others. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, also shares a lesser-known story about his family.

Development

Background

Upon receiving a call from producer Joyce D. Mandell, director Michael King initiated The Rescuers project, drawing inspiration from the heroic actions of the diplomats. Mandell, a distinguished businesswoman and philanthropist, first encountered the story while providing support for a photography exhibit on diplomats at the University of Hartford. Subsequently, she encountered the exhibit at the Legislative building in Washington, D.C., and on Ellis Island. Recognizing the compelling nature of the story, Mandell proposed the creation of a documentary to bring this lesser-known narrative to a wider audience, leading to her collaboration with King.

"To actualize Joyce's vision, I was invited to Connecticut to meet 'the committee', a group that would serve as semi-advisors for the project," King said. The committee comprised a Judaic Studies professor, a Rabbi, an executive director of a Jewish Community Center, a film curator from a museum, an author specializing in Jewish history, various historians, and other individuals knowledgeable about the subject matter. At this meeting, I articulated my reasons for pursuing a film about the Holocaust as an African American. I emphasized that all of my films seek to address social issues. As an African American, I bring a profound understanding of atrocities committed against humanity. I drew parallels to Steven Spielberg's ability to create the film "The Color Purple," highlighting the potential for diverse perspectives on sensitive topics. The concept for this film aims to present a new viewpoint on the Holocaust, portraying it through the lens of a young girl from Rwanda in today's world, seeking to bridge the gap between the past and present and create a story with universal relevance.

King's paramount objective was not only to document the diplomats' narrative but also to ensure that the film resonated with a broader, younger audience while exploring the enduring relevance of the Holocaust and the diplomats' actions in contemporary society. In pursuit of this goal, he encountered Stephanie Nyombayire, a young Rwandan anti-genocide activist and co-founder of the Genocide Action Network, who had experienced personal loss during the Rwandan genocide. Nyombayire swiftly expressed her keen interest in a project that sheds light on the courageous actions of those who stood up for their beliefs and underscores the potential of this story to inspire bystanders to combat genocide.

Filming

Throughout the production of The Rescuers, the entire crew encountered significant emotional challenges, particularly Sir Martin Gilbert and Nyombayire, due to the sensitive subject matter. Sir Martin, a veteran of the film industry with over 40 years of experience, described this as his most emotionally demanding filmmaking experience. The profound tragedy and the visits to the locations where Jews were exterminated consistently overwhelmed him. Confronting the enormity and resilience of evil proved to be the most daunting task; however, he drew strength from the understanding that narrating the story of the rescuers was vital for persevering through hardships.

Throughout the film, Stephanie Nyombayire is confronted with harsh realities. She interviews Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire, the former Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Rwanda. In their face-to-face interaction, Dallaire elucidates the U.N.'s position: “With the onset of the genocide, my mandate as a U.N. Peacekeeper ceased. There was reluctance to embark on another mission in Africa, considering the recent debacle in Somalia a few months prior. The U.N. sought to circumvent involvement in another complex African issue and opted for a cost-effective approach, hoping for a self-resolving outcome. This approach implied a lack of significant consideration for Rwanda, a nation in Black Africa."

During her interview, Nyombayire expressed her response to those words as a recognition that little has changed. She asserts that history is recurring in Darfur, underscoring the unequal valuation of lives. Nyombayire stresses that she perceives it not merely as a matter of race, but rather as a reflection of the global community's priorities. She highlights that, during the Rwandan genocide, safeguarding one million innocent lives was not a focal point for the international community.

Nyombayire underscores the noteworthy parallels between the methodical preparations for the Holocaust and subsequent occurrences in other genocides, particularly the Rwandan genocide and the atrocities in Darfur. The dehumanization and strategic scheming evident at the Wannsee Villa resonated with the unfolding events in Rwanda. This contemplation prompts reflection on the tactics employed to persuade ordinary Rwandans to partake in the killings of their compatriots. Furthermore, Nyombayire underscores the ongoing suffering of the people of Darfur and the perpetual absence of substantial international intervention despite enduring similar crises for years.

10th Anniversary screening

On Thursday, September 22, 2022, a remastered version of The Rescuers was shown for one night only at The Mandell JCC to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the film's release. The panel for the post-film discussion featured Debórah Dwork, PhD, director, Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity The Graduate Center – City University of New York; Dr. Stephanie Fagin-Jones, clinical psychologist, Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology at Columbia University Teachers College, and a Holocaust heroism science scholar; Joel N. Lohr, PhD, President of Hartford International University for Religion and Peace; and Dr. Sylvia Smoller, scientist, writer and Holocaust Survivor. The panel was moderated by Avinoam J. Patt, PhD , The Doris and Simon Konover Chair of Judaic Studies and Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life at the University of Connecticut."Remastered Version Of 'The Rescuers' Film Screening Coming To Mandell JCC". WeHa.

Screening on Capitol Hill

On May 6, 2024, the remastered version of The Rescuers was shown before Senators and members of Congress, commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day Yom HaShoah and in support of The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act. The panel for a pre-film discussion featured Dr. Edmund Duckwitz, the Ambassador (ret.) of the Federal Republic of Germany; Birgitta Tazelaar, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the U.S.; and Ellen Germain, the U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. Peter Alexander, NBC Chief White House Correspondent, moderated the panel. Before the screening of the film, Director/Producer Michael W. King was presented with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by Congressman John B. Larson for his accomplished 35 years of commitment and service to humanitarian and artistic endeavors.""WUSA". Vimeo.

""KNTV". Vimeo.

""WTTG". Vimeo.

Rescuers Last Chance Project

Kwas approached in 2021 by the USC Shoah Foundation for the survivor testimonies from The Rescuers for their Visual History Archive. In building the testimonies for the Andrew J. and Joyce D. Mandell International Rescuers Collection"Connecticut filmmakers search for remaining diplomats who saved lives during Holocaust for Joyce D. Mndelll Rescuers Collection". Harford Courant., King decided to expand his research efforts to identify additional survivors and relatives to document the stories of additional diplomats with Righteous Among the Nations status. With that developed the Rescuers Last Chance Project, a "race against time" to identify the people who knew the remaining diplomats and Holocaust survivors who benefited from their assistance, in telling those stories."The Rescuers". IMDb.

Development

Michael W. King was approached in 2021 by the USC Shoah Foundation for the survivor testimonies from ‘The Rescuers’ for their Visual History Archive. In building the testimonies for the Andrew J. and Joyce D. Mandell International Rescuers Collection, King decided to expand his research efforts to identify additional survivors and relatives to document the stories of additional diplomats with Righteous Among the Nations status. With that developed “The Rescuer Last Chance Project,” a ‘race against time’ to identify the people who knew the remaining diplomats and Holocaust survivors who benefited from their assistance, to tell those stories.

Filming

Across a span of two years, filming commenced in July of 2022 in Israel. Over the course of three months filming of survivors, second generation, and family members of the Righteous was done across Israel, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Spain, and Portugal. In March of 2023, time was split between filming in Ecuador, the country of Righteous Manuel Antonio Munoz Borrero, and Brazil, the country of Righteous Aracy De Carvalho. Both family members and survivors, and 2nd gen were interviewed during this time. During July of 2023, production time was spent in Vancouver filming reenactments, and 2nd generation and survivor interviews. From there, filming was done on the other side of Canada, in Toronto, filming survivors and 2nd generation. In the starting months of 2024, filming was done in Phoenix, Arizona, Boca Raton, Florida, and Brooklyn, New York of family members of the Righteous and also of 2nd generation and survivors rescued by these diplomats. Production concluded on November 22nd with the filming of reenactments in Budapest, Hungary and the filming of the stepdaughter of Righteous Diplomat, Carl Lutz.

Music

The musical score for The Rescuers was composed by Dutch composer Paul M. van Brugge, known for his work on over 70 feature films. The Sofia Soloists Orchestra of Bulgaria performed the soundtrack. King, the director, specifically sought out a composer who could incorporate European influences into the score. Van Brugge's connection to the story, stemming from his family's history of having to leave Holland, further fueled his enthusiasm for the project.

Throughout the film, van Brugge skillfully incorporated traditional instruments representative of each country, thereby creating a distinct and culturally rich auditory experience. Regarding this approach, King noted, "We selected instruments that are emblematic of each diplomat's homeland, enriching their narratives and contributing to a diverse and dynamic soundtrack." The specific instruments employed included the Guitar for Spain and Portugal, Accordion for France, Koto and Taiko for Japan, Bouzouki and Saz (bağlama) for Turkey, a Lur-like instrument for Denmark, Banjo for England, Clarinet for Poland, and Cimbalom and Violin for Hungary.

Themes

In The Rescuers, a critical examination of altruism reveals the complexity of benevolent deeds. The lack of testimonies from the individuals who undertook these exceptional acts of kindness leaves us to conjecture. Sir Martin Gilbert posits the existence of both virtuous and unethical persons. The virtuous may be driven by religious faith, parental guidance, or a profound personal grasp of principles such as morality and autonomous choice – the capacity to act based on one's conscience, even in challenging circumstances. Education, upbringing, and religion are the three foundational elements of society, all of which have the potential to instill individuals with a strong ethical framework. The efficacy of these foundations was exemplified by the rescuers.

In contemplating the events, King questions the passive stance of onlookers and underscores the mystery surrounding their inaction. He underscores the significance of preventing such tragedies from affecting any family and stresses the humanitarian value inherent in each individual's narrative. King advocates for the incorporation of these values into the education of our children and within society. Historically, individuals who have been overlooked and frequently penalized for opposing government policies, despite their commendable actions in saving lives, should be embraced.

The aforementioned diplomats, whose identities largely remain unknown, refrained from publicizing their actions or pursuing personal gain. Their altruistic motivations were devoid of self-interest and were driven by a strong sense of duty, without seeking recognition or recompense.

"I believe that by sharing this narrative, we can inspire others to scrutinize why acts of kindness are perceived as uncommon rather than prevalent. This encounter has fortified my determination to devise measures that will relegate genocide or attempts at genocide to the annals of history," Nyombayire remarks. "It instills in me a sense of hope that if individuals were willing to jeopardize their lives, careers, and families to rescue others, perhaps this level of altruism could become the norm rather than the exception.”

It is worth noting that King and Billy Bingham had been childhood friends. Billy was the son of Hiram Bingham IV, who served as the Vice-Consul at the American Consulate in Marseille, France. Along with Varian Fry, Bingham was involved in saving tens of thousands of Jews, among them renowned figures such as Marc Chagall and other prominent artists and writers. King remarked, "We attended school together from our early years through college. Even Billy was unaware of his father's actions until after his father's passing." "They knew he was a diplomat, but that was the extent of their knowledge. Following his death, a box containing letters and papers from the people he had rescued was discovered behind the fireplace. It is perplexing to me. Why would someone who performed such an extraordinary act keep it a secret, not even sharing it with his family?"

Awards

Film festival awards include: