Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport (2000)

As the dark clouds of World War II began to gather in 1938 and 1939, an extraordinary tale of courage and compassion unfolded. 'Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport' chronicles the poignant journey of about 10,000 children, predominantly Jews, from the stormy landscapes of Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia to the comforting embrace of safety in England. This act of mercy, unparalleled anywhere else before the war, involved these young souls being welcomed into the loving arms of foster families and hostels, each one carrying a tiny flicker of hope to reunite with their parents someday. The film knits together the richly textured memories of eleven of these 'Kinder,' along with a child's mother, an English foster mother, a survivor of Auschwitz who didn't embark on this journey, and two architects of the Kindertransport initiative. Their recollections paint a vivid tableau of the era, from the days before the Nazis' rise to power, the mid-to-late 1930s when Jews were unjustly vilified, to the heart-wrenching farewells at family doorsteps, and the daunting voyage to England. We follow their tentative steps as they meet their foster families, their brave smiles inked on postcards home, the gnawing fear of the worst, the resilience they discovered within themselves, and the desperate search for their families once the war's terrifying cacophony had ceased. Amidst the tragic silhouette of 1,500,000 children who perished, 'Into the Arms of Strangers' highlights the beacon of hope, the 10,000 saved, illuminating the indomitable spirit of humanity in the face of unspeakable adversity.

Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport is a documentary movie featuring Judi Dench and directed by Mark Jonathan Harris.

Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport is currently streaming on Max and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.