Secret Lives: Hidden Children & Their Rescuers During WWII

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Secret Lives: Hidden Children & Their Rescuers During WWII

2002

1h 12m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Through harrowing archival footage and touching interviews with Holocaust survivors, documentarian Aviva Slesin tells the story of the brave individuals who, during World War II, risked their own lives in order to harbor Jewish children from invading Nazis and almost certain death. Slesin reveals her own story about finding safety in a foster home during the Holocaust and explores bonds that formed between other children of the tragedy and their surrogate families.

Critics Consensus

A moving, important testament to these children and the familes who took them in.

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John Leonard

New York Magazine/Vulture

... we are reminded once again that heroism is as mysterious as evil.

Jan 27, 2018

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Slesin records these difficult and ambiguous circumstances with clear-eyed sobriety, yet in the end her film remains a testimonial to human goodness.

Rated: B+

Aug 22, 2004

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Tim Cogshell

Boxoffice Magazine

It's a thorough and complicated film that Slesin documents with poignancy and simplicity.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 21, 2003

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Brandon Judell

Aufbau

Slesin, who's already won an Oscar for her documentary, "Ten Year Lunch: The Wit and The Legend of the Algonquin Round Table," should at least be racking up another nomination with this sterling effort.

May 15, 2006

Full Review

Paul Sherman

Boston Herald

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 16, 2005

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Jean Lowerison

San Diego Metropolitan

It's good to be reminded of the existence of people willing to risk their lives to save someone else. Seeing this short film will reaffirm your faith in humanity.

Dec 19, 2003

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Audience Member

Again, there is a lot of good in people.. as much as there is bad... amazing what some families did for these children, out of their sense of good!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

this doc was really sparse and didn't seem to have much depth which is a shame because of the topic.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

Aviva Slesin, herself a Lithuanian-born rescued child of the Holocaust, put six years into creating this masterpiece of a documentary, conducting many an interview with other "hidden children" in Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, & Poland. Engaging & at times unflinchingly honest (one interviewee still harbors some resentment for having to share her parents), I wish this film were longer. Very well done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Fascinating documentary about the children saved by non-Jewish families in Europe during WWII. Lives were risked all around, and the changes in all the lives involved are palpable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

Very interesting. You get a sense of what it was like for the children who lived with parents who saved children.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

[You commented on this movie] Comments: really crap ~ really crap ~

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Aviva Slesin

Director

Aviva Slesin

Producer

Ann Rubenstein Tisch

Executive Producer

Toby Appleton Perl

Writer

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Synopsis

Through harrowing archival footage and touching interviews with Holocaust survivors, documentarian Aviva Slesin tells the story of the brave individuals who, during World War II, risked their own lives in order to harbor Jewish children from invading Nazis and almost certain death. Slesin reveals her own story about finding safety in a foster home during the Holocaust and explores bonds that formed between other children of the tragedy and their surrogate families.

Director: Aviva Slesin
Producer: Aviva Slesin
Screenwriter: Toby Appleton Perl
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $42.4K
Runtime: 1h 12m