In her early 20s, Irene Gut Opdyke was hired by Wehrmacht Major Eduard Rügemer to work as the housekeeper in the Polish villa he had requisitioned. Risking her life, Irene hid 12 Jews in the cellar… and when Rügemer found out, she bought his complicity by agreeing to become his mistress. Opdyke later won the Nations Medal for her immense courage, and her story became a Broadway play by Dan Gordon in 2008, and now a film, directed by Louise Archibault (And the Birds Rained Down; Gabrielle).
Former child actress Sophie Nélisse (The Book Thief; Yellowjackets) truly comes of age, here, with her heartrending portrait of a young woman whose moral conscience compels her to risk everything to thwart the evils of fascism. Dougray Scott (Ever After: A Cinderella Story; Mission: Impossible II) portrays the German officer. It’s a fascinating complement to Jonathan Glazer’s Zone of Interest, also screening at VIFF.
October 1: Q&A with director Louise Archambault
Sophie Nélisse, Dougray Scott, Andrzej Seweryn, and Maciek Nawrocki
Canada/Poland
2023
Panorama
English
Violence, Antisemitism
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits
Executive Producer
Noah Segal, Laurie May, John K MacDonald, Eleanor Wiebe, Don Depoe, Michael Feehan and Sharon Azrieli
Producer
Nicholas Tabarrok, Beata Pisula, Tim Ringuette, Berry Meyerowitz, Jeff Sackman
Screenwriter
Dan Gordon
Cinematography
Paul Sarossy
Editor
Arthur Tarnowski
Production Design
Joanna Białousz
Original Music
Alexandra Stréliski
Director
Louise Archambault
Screenwriter and director Louise Archambault made her debut with the internationally acclaimed film Atomic Saké. Her first feature film Familia won Best Canadian First Feature Film at TIFF and received a Genie Award. Louise launched her second film Gabrielle at Locarno and won the Audience Award. The film, selected to represent Canada at the Oscars and the Golden Globes in 2014, won many international prizes. In 2019, Louise released two feature films, And the Birds Rained Down, and Merci Pour Tout. These films both got considerable box office, ranking respectively 2nd and 3rd position in Canada. Louise just finished shooting the tv series Survivre À Ses Enfants, a comedy for Radio‐Canada.
Filmography: Familia (2005); Gabrielle (2014); And the Birds Rained Down (2019); Merci pour tout (2019); Le temps d’un été (2023)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Everybody to Kenmure Street
This rousing documentary (100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) never puts a foot wrong as it recreates a tense, prolonged stand-off between the police and the citizens of Glasgow when an Immigration Enforcement squad attempt to arrest two men from their homes.
The Silence of the Lambs
Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) gives FBI serial killer hunter Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) pointers from his maximum security cell. But is he trying to aid the investigation, or just messing with her head?
Thelma & Louise
In this iconic feminist road movie BFF Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon take off for a weekend getaway that turns violent when one of them is attacked. The stakes get higher as they flee the scene. Winner: Best Original Screenplay (Callie Khouri).
Another World
This hit anime from Hong Kong gives us an unpredictable, sometimes darkly karmic tale taking place on either side of the afterlife involving a headstrong princess with bad karma and the spirit guide who tries to help her get on a better path.