Winner of Best Documentary at the 2001 Oscars, this is one of the most moving and humbling documentaries of recent times. It tells the story of the Kindertransport, Jewish children who were evacuated from Nazi-occupied Europe to Britain in the months leading up to World War II. The film concentrates on the stories of a few of these 'kinder'; giving a very human face to a period in history that is often difficult to comprehend fully.
The film does not break any new ground in its production - it follows a reasonably standard documentary style, but the stories of the 'kinder' mean it's riveting throughout. The narration (provided by Judi Dench) and background footage set the scene for the stories, as told by the now ageing 'kinder'. In turn they describe their family life and their feelings at being sent away by their parents with seemingly no good reason and at very short notice. They also tell of their arrival in Britain and their experiences with (not always welcoming) foster parents. But perhaps the most devastating part is the end of the war, when the 'kinder' found out whether their parents were still alive after several years without contact, and the difficulties of leaving the people they considered their families to return to their natural parents.
This is not a depressing film, despite its subject. The inherent dignity of the 'kinder' mean that they recall their experiences with dispassion and sense of humour; reminding us of the tenacity of the human spirit, rather than the horrors people inflict on one another.