Save the Children

Synopsis

On September 11, 1942, nearly 600 Jews from the north of France were rounded up and brought together in a freight station in Lille. 23 railway workers will then, at their own risk and peril, circumvent the close surveillance of the Germans to gradually get out of the station and then bring to safety about forty arrested people, most of whom are children.
This episode has only been known for two years, yet it is one of the largest rescues of Jews leaving for Auschwitz in Europe.

About the Director

Catherine directed her first short film, Zohra on the Beach, in 1996 (Award in Locarno Film festival), followed by three documentaries dealing with German guilt: Grand’ma (Vic-Le-Conte Award), Sour Grapes (Jean Lodz Scam 2000 Award) and The Absent Ones. Murder of a Hatmaker, 85 minutes, made in 2006, dealt with the plundering of the Jews by the Vichy government, winning awards worldwide. She directed in 2008 a portrait of the philosopher Michel Serres and Asylum (Award Festival Lorquin). Her short film Naked, won in 2009 the Best film Award at Saint Petersburg. The Bookseller, a spy documentary, won awards in Bulgaria, Croatia and France. She directed T4, A Physician under the Nazis about the handicapped persons extermination (Public award in Luchon). Then Fritz Bauer, a prosecutor against the nazi (Award in Croatia). In 2019, Catherine directed The French National Train Company during the German occupation and she lately finished Save the Children.

Festivals, Screenings, & Awards

Historia Magazine – Prix Historia for Best Historical Documentary

French Cinema Critics Union – Best Documentary Film