Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport

PG

Released Sep 15, 2000

2h 2m

Documentary

List

92%

36 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

For nine months prior to World War II, in an act of mercy unequalled anywhere else before the war, Britain conducted an extraordinary rescue mission, opening its doors to over 10,000 Jewish and other children from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. These children, or Kinder (sing. Kind), as they came to be known, were taken into foster homes and hostels in Britain, expecting eventually to be reunited with their parents. The majority of them never saw their families again.

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Critics Consensus

Although it appears to be nothing more than a "talking heads" documentary you may see on TV, Into the Arms of Strangers, nonetheless, tells a heart-wrenching story.

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Alexandra H

This movie was extremely well-done. It follows the lives of several Jewish children from Europe given refuge in the UK in 1938-39. They're now elderly and recalling the experience. The stories are told through photos and film of the period. I cried through a lot of it. It is both sad and heart-warming. These are uplifting stories of generosity and courage. I highly recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/22

Full Review

Audience Member

An unforgettable documentary that documents the incredible project to transport Jewish Children from Germany/Austria before the Nazi Party had complete control. This endeavor was called Kindertransport & saved over 100,000 children but sadly 1,500,000 perished as a result of the Holocaust. The film's presents testimonies of the children still alive today & the incredible hardships they experienced having to leave their family. Many of these children never got back to their families since many of the parents where killed in Aushwitz Concentration Camp. This is humane story that is impacting & powerful, a must see film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

(***): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a heartening story in the midst of one of the most disheartening episodes in human history, since there were so many people complicit in the mass killing and so few who dared to do what those involved in the 'kindertransport rescue operation' did.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

What made this documentary was hearing the stories of those who had actually been on the train. In spite of the difficulties many of these people faced, there was gratitude for what had been done for them.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A well laid out documentary that is aided tremendously by the heart felt stories that we hear from children who never ended up going home. Very moving.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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Mark Jonathan Harris

Director

Judi Dench

Narrator

Alexander Gordon

Documentary Gordon

Mark Jonathan Harris

Writer

Deborah Oppenheimer

Producer

Don Lenzer

Cinematographer

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Such is the awful power of these everyday images that I urge you to see Into the Arms of Strangers on a theater screen... Yet the film's deeper power lies in the stories, both bitter and sweet, told by the former children.

Mar 26, 2024

Full Review

John Leonard

New York Magazine/Vulture

... deserves the Oscar it won last March for best documentary feature...

Feb 2, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Aug 20, 2003

Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

This is an inherently moving story, and director Mark Jonathan Harris has the wisdom to trust that.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 5, 2009

Full Review

Jules Brenner

Cinema Signals

Rated: 3/4

Jul 28, 2007

Full Review

Sarah Chauncey

Reel.com

Rated: 5/5

Jun 4, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

For nine months prior to World War II, in an act of mercy unequalled anywhere else before the war, Britain conducted an extraordinary rescue mission, opening its doors to over 10,000 Jewish and other children from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. These children, or Kinder (sing. Kind), as they came to be known, were taken into foster homes and hostels in Britain, expecting eventually to be reunited with their parents. The majority of them never saw their families again.

Director: Mark Jonathan Harris
Screenwriter: Mark Jonathan Harris
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Sabine Films, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Skywalker
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $374.6K
Runtime: 2h 2m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround

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