The Rescuers is a 2011 documentary film directed and produced by Michael W. King.
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.
When searching for a narrator and companion for Nyombayire in the film, King met Sir Martin Gilbert, a distinguished Holocaust historian who had endured the loss of several family members during that period. King traveled to London to meet Sir Martin and coincidentally discovered that the historian had recently completed his book, "The Righteous: The Unsung Heroes of the Holocaust," which focused on ordinary individuals who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. Sir Martin was also in the process of writing a book about the "Righteous Diplomats" who saved Jews. Sir Martin's participation in The Rescuers facilitated crucial access to significant contacts across Europe, thus proving instrumental to the film's development. Sir Martin expressed that although he had written about these diplomats, he had never met them. He expressed appreciation for the film, as it provided him with a precious opportunity to do so. Nyombayire observed that Sir Martin is a very private individual, but noted that the 60 years since he lost many of his family members have brought him closer to the experience. She admired his strength and dedication to retracing the steps, history, and rationale that led to the justification of the killing of his family and those who could have been his friends. Nyombayire highlighted that she learned about how history impacts our growth from Sir Martin. She stated, "I realized that we have the responsibility to record its path so that it can be comprehended and not repeated.”
Accompanied by Sir Martin, King journeyed to Jerusalem and commenced extensive research at Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, in Israel. During this time, he gained access to the files of the Righteous Diplomats, housing testimonies of those who were rescued and safeguarded. With the guidance of Irena Steinfeldt, the director of the Righteous Department, King successfully obtained the names of the diplomats’ descendants and Holocaust survivors, enabling him to subsequently arrange meetings and conduct interviews with them. Following this, King refined the treatment, cast selection, and storytelling approach. He emphasized dedicating three months to rigorous research and immersive study of the subject to achieve a comprehensive understanding.
Irene Steinfeldt highlighted that the diplomats form a distinct and limited segment within the Righteous group. Their notable characteristics lie in their tendency to defy their superiors, disregard rules, and act contrary to expectations. While such behavior would typically not be endorsed, in this particular context, it sets them apart.
King, from the outset, was transparent with all potential subjects in the movie. "I disclosed my African American heritage and Nyombayire to everyone. I ensured that all were aware of my African American background and Nyombayire. Sir Martin's esteemed reputation and qualifications undeniably enhanced our credibility," King asserts. "I elucidated the film's concept, exploring the mystery of goodness and the underlying motivations that lead one person to act rightly while another does not. Nevertheless, I still had to gain their trust to accurately portray their story, especially since I was delving into a history unfamiliar to me." Gaining their trust to the extent that they felt comfortable sharing their story and revisiting the past was a significant accomplishment. I am deeply honored to have achieved this.
In The Rescuers, King expresses the belief that impactful narratives possess the ability to inspire personal development and a quest for improvement. He underscores the appeal of participating in this endeavor and the significance of sharing one's story to influence the future.
Within the context of The Rescuers, 12 diplomats are spotlighted, a selection informed by three primary criteria: the efficacy in saving lives, the emotional and dramatic elements of each account, and the intention to challenge stereotypes. Of note are two diplomats, including Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz, who were specifically selected to dismantle prevailing stereotypes. Duckwitz, a member of the Nazi Party and the German Attaché in Copenhagen defied expectations by facilitating the transport of Danish Jews to safety in Sweden, ultimately safeguarding 7,200 individuals. This exemplifies a remarkable demonstration of compassion from a member of the Nazi Party, a cohort historically associated with nefarious pursuits. A second notable figure is Selahattin Ulkumen, a Muslim diplomat serving as the official Turkish Consul on the Greek Island of Rhodes, who has been credited with protecting generations of Jews.
King expounds on the integration of his African American heritage and his aspiration for a heterogeneous society into the procedure. In her emphasis, Nyombayire highlights the significant influence of individual agency in catalyzing change and the inherent strength within each of us to champion ethical principles. She firmly asserts that the majority of people acknowledge the injustice of perpetrating harm against fellow community members. Still, she contends that it is the failure or lack of resolve to diverge from collective conformity that engenders widespread endorsement of mass atrocities by ordinary individuals. Her interaction with diplomats has illuminated the profound impact achievable through collaborative efforts with those who adamantly reject passivity.
Contrary to popular belief, individuals are capable of prioritizing the welfare of others over their own and making sacrifices for individuals whom they scarcely know. The profound impact of leveraging one's privileges to assist others is immeasurable, as exemplified by the families of those who were safeguarded through the issuance of visas.
Mehmet Ulkumen, the son of the Turkish diplomat, articulates his father's conviction, stating, "My father held the view that it is incumbent upon individuals to aid their fellow human beings. These individuals were akin to siblings to me, thus it became my duty to extend assistance to them, considering my ability to do so."
Filming