The true story of Sister Helena Studlerová, a Vincentian nun, set in France at the beginning of World War II. A film about the creation of a network of freedom that helped save approximately two thousand prisoners from concentration camps.

Sister Helena cares for orphans and the abandoned at a convent hospital in Metz, in the Alsace-Lorraine region. When she discovers that the Nazis have established a concentration camp nearby, she decides, together with her fellow sisters and friends of the prisoners, to gradually free them.

Thanks to the involvement of many people with various contacts and influence, Sister Helena gradually succeeds in rescuing the first prisoners from the death camps.

The film showcases the courage and determination of the individuals involved, who risk their lives and the safety of themselves and their loved ones. They do everything possible—and even the impossible—out of love for their neighbors to help at least some of them escape suffering and death.

Among the people Sister Helena Studler saved was the young François Mitterrand, who later became president of France.

A shortcoming of the film is several scenes that come across as rather naive, even implausible. Despite certain minor flaws, the film is a beautiful portrayal of self-sacrifice and love for others.

Drama

Spain, 2017, 120 min

Crew: Pablo Moreno;

Cast: Javier Bódalo, Assumpta Serna, Denis Rafter, Ainhoa Aldanondo, Juan Lombardero, Gabriel Latorre, Luisa Gavasa, Emilio Linder, Giulia Charm;

Parents’ Guide

About two instances of a married couple kissing. A woman in a strapless nightgown.

A mine explosion. A few instances of people being shot and terror inflicted by the Nazis. A few instances of torture by the Nazis. One execution. One Nazi leader commits suicide by shooting himself in the mouth toward the end of the film.

Bribing Nazis with bottles of alcohol.

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