Premiere Screening of "Righteous" at the POLIN Museum

Mateusz Szczepaniak, 16 November 2016
To mark the 106th birthday of Irena Sendler, a Righteous Among the Nations, POLIN Museum hosted the premiere screening of the film "Sprawiedliwy” (Righteous), directed by Michał Szczerbic. The film tells the story of the hiding of a Jewish child by a Polish family during the Holocaust. The film was screened before an audience of over 300, in the presence of the director, cast and witnesses to the history - the Righteous and those rescued from the Holocaust. The screening was following by a banquet.

In an interview with the Polish Press Agency PAP, Michał Szczerbic said, "The story was inspired by true events - that of my own family and friends. During World War II, my mother Anastazja saved a Jewish child. Years later, she was awarded the Righteous Among the Nations medal."

In his debut as a director, he tells the story of six year old Hana, a Jewish orphan who, during the Holocaust, is taken in by a Polish couple. Despite the incredible danger, Anastazja and Jan find a place to hide the child. A local oddball, Pajtek, plays a key role in the child's survival. He becomes her closest friend and, during moments of danger, manages to distract attention away from her.

"If you can give a glass of water to a Jew or Syrian who comes to your home, do so. If you can do more, do more", said the director at the premiere.

The film's cast includes Jacek Braciak, Jan Wieczorkowski, Urszula Grabowska, Katarzyna Dąbrowska, Aleksandra Hamkało, Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Maja Komorowska and Anna Karczmarczyk.

"Sprawiedliwy” will appear in cinemas on Friday 19th February.