Set in Poland in the Second World War, Irena’s Vow tells the remarkable true story of Irena Gut, who risked her life to save a generation of Jews from the atrocities of the Holocaust. Source: Australian Catholics.
Irena is a young trainee nurse when her hospital is bombed as the Germans invade Poland, 1939. The film emphasises that she is a Catholic. At Mass, Communion is brutally interrupted by the German military, and Irena is selected from the congregation to go to work in a munitions factory. A sympathetic supervisor transfers her to supervise a group of 11 Jews, professionals who are now employed in sewing and mending for the invaders and their servants.
The film has some graphic moments about the treatment of the Poles by the Germans, especially an abhorrent moment with the brutal death of a baby and its mother. At this, the horrified Irena vows that she will try to save lives.
The main part of the film is her being appointed, because of her skills in cooking and waiting tables, to be the housekeeper for a German official (Scott). Even though she is only about 20, Irena (played with strength and sensitivity by Neilsse) is enormously enterprising in being able to save and conceal the 11 Jews in the cellar of the mansion she manages. And, some humorous relief as they help her surreptitiously with cooking and serving banquets, cleaning the house, always unbeknown to the official.
As with so many films based on true stories, the final credits give a lot of information as to what happened not only to Irena but to the various Jewish prisoners whom the audience has got to know quite well.
Review by Fr Peter Malone MSC, Jesuit Media
Irena’s Vow: Starring Sophie Nelisse, Dougray Scott, Andrzej Seweryn. Directed by Louise Archambault. 121 minutes. Rated MA (Strong themes and violence).
FULL REVIEW
Irena’s Vow (Australian Catholics)
