Discussion Leader: Rabbi Amiel Monson
This program is cohosted by Congregation Beth Shalom
Drama
2023, 121 min., Canada-Poland, English
In occupied Poland, a former nurse risks her own life to shelter a dozen Jewish men and women from the Nazi war machine in this unforgettable tale of bravery and sacrifice. Set in 1939 Warsaw, when the Nazis invade Poland, nurse Irena Gut is displaced and forced to work in support of the German war effort, running the home of a Nazi commandant. Instead of following the path of least resistance and gambling on her status and ethnicity to keep her safe, she risks everything to save a dozen Jewish refugees from persecution and murder, sheltering them under her boss’s nose. Irena’s Vow is, at its heart, a story of simple moral clarity. It’s all anchored by a powerful performance from the empathetic Sophie Nélisse, who channels the alternating shock, disbelief, and horror of an innocent who is forced, over and over again, to negotiate an impossible situation — always racing to ensure not just her friends’ survival, but her own. Director: Louise Archambault
The 2023 film Irena's Vow has won several awards, including:
• Audience Award: Vancouver International Film Festival, 2023
• LIUNA People's Choice Award: Windsor International Film Festival, 2023
• WGC Award: Feature Film, 2024
Sponsor: Jewish Federation of NENY, Schenectady County, JCC Friends of the Arts