Original subtitles

OCR'd & Corrected By NILNUWAN

They tore me out from my father's arm...

and took me away.

This moment, / will never, never forget.

We were unloaded from the

trains, and boys and men in one queue.

Women and children in the other queue.

- And they told us to move forward... - I was ten months old

when I arrived in Theresienstadt.

At night, you could see the chimneys were glowing...

You had dead bodies all laying on the floor.

"I hope it's not me tomorrow."

You were starving all the time.

All we were thinking of was food.

We were supposed to be eliminated.

They got the 10,000 children, took them to Chelmno

they gassed them, and then they buried them in the mass graves.

I only believed that the war was over

when I actually saw German soldiers captured by the Russians.

And they told me that we're going to England.

I didn't know anything about England.

I couldn't speak any, not a word of English.

I knew two words, I know "OK"...

I came with absolutely nothing

because I had no clothes of my own, no toys...

Didn't know where we were going, or what we were going to do.

This is the last group.

It's been a long day. Let's get them settled as soon as possible.

Welcome!

- It's warm inside. - Down here.

Geht bitte wetter, Kinder!

Wilkommen in England.

Come on, off you get, that's it.

Welcome to Windermere.

- This way. - This way!

Keine Angst. Drin ist es warm.

- Geht bitte waiter, Kinder! - Welcome...

BOY RETCHES - on!

Ah! Ah... MAN CHUCKLES

My dear boy, it's nothing a damp cloth can't sort out.

Ha. Please, urn...

Please follow your friends.

Mind the steps.

WOMAN IN GERMAN:

Please remove all your clothes and put them on the pile.

We have to get rid of them for typhus.

You will be given new clothes in the morning.

Just a little cough for me.

Thank you. Please remove all clothes and shoes...

On the pile here. We've got some blankets.

Next one, please.

Oscar!

Ah. NOW...

May I introduce you to Edith and Georg Lauer?

Kept prisoner with some of the children in Theresienstadt.

Edith, Georg.

Overseeing our project, our esteemed director, Oscar Friedmann.

Traveling all day. You must be exhausted.

We are glad to finally be here.

Before coming to England, Oscar ran an institution for troubled boys in Germany.

He has since become quite the expert with regards to child refugees.

Which is why I asked him to lead this project.

They are going to be here for four months?

Yes.

And after?

We are working very hard at what will happen to them after Windermere.

Come! You look shattered.

Mr Friedmann.

One of the lads is refusing to get off.

Refusing?

I tried to explain he's got nothing to fear but he won't budge.

What happened?

We talked, and now we wait.

And how long are you...

Take him inside, Jock. Would you?

This way, Salek.

Come inside.

Just through here.

Here we are.

Can we see the next one, please?

Come this way.

Here. Let's get you seen quickly.

Nurse?

Just this way... - Good lad.

My name is, uh, Jock Laurence. And you?

Nein.

Arek.

Arek Herszlikowicz.

Arek.

And where are... where are you from, son?

Otoschno. Auschwitz. Buchenwald. Theresienstadt.

He was in four camps?

Again, physically smaller than we might expect for his age.

Various scars across his back and arms.

Burn scars. Damage to the fingers.

Healed. Badly.

Open your mouth please, son.

Four missing teeth.

Several in decay.

Again, almost certainly due to malnutrition.

Yet another for the dentist.

Problem?

At the last minute, another boy on the flight went back to Poland.

This boy took his place, but there was no more time to amend the roster.

Oh, my dear boy. Calm yourself.

We shall sort everything out.

In the meantime...

welcome to England.

Compared to survivors in newsreels I've seen

they look more normal than I was expecting.

Three months ago...

you wouldn't have recognised a single child.

This way, please.

Mr Friedmann is quite clear - girls and boys must sleep separately.

How, when these boys and these girls are inseparable?

We want them to leave the chaos of their former life behind

and restore order.

While I understand, they will not.

Then we must explain it to them.

May I suggest explaining it tomorrow?

Once they, and I, have slept?

- Would you prefer me to? - I can manage.

Most strangers get a slap.

He must like you.

I... I did not expect such little ones to survive.

They were exceptions.

Hidden. Living off scraps.

Like rats.

I would be most curious to see how it has affected them.

Turn around.

Wherever Bela goes, they go too.

Inseparable.

Leonard, you know...

the Lauers think four months is not enough.

Well...

you've certainly got your hands full.

One of the boys said to me

"The reason I am alive is because I was strong enough to take bread

from someone who was too weak to eat it."

The camps taught them survival at any cost.

Four months.

Not much time to bring them back to civilization.

Keeping them all together in one place was your idea.

We've achieved that.

I wish I could give you longer.

We raised as much as we could.

Salek!

Woo-woo!

- Geschichte-- - Uh, Oscar?

If you ask me, they look a tad peckish.

Baruch Atah Adonai...

- Hertha! More bread! - What?

More bread! Let them see it will never run out.

Do you think every meal's gonna be like this?

Let's hope not.

So, how d'ya plan to tame them?

"Tame" them?

Jock, they're not animals.

Next! Stand there, please.

Next.

Close your eyes.

Right, next!

Ey-up!

What's going' on here?

Right, next!

Who you looking' at, Fritz?

Oh, look. Adolf wants to shake hands!

Go on, shake hands, Mam. Go on'.!

Now yank the Kraut bastard over!

Ah, go on, Mam'.!

Come on! - Pull a bit harder.

What is he doing'? - What ya doing'?

I'm trying'.

He's stronger than he looks.

Get off me!

- Let go! - Hey!

Your nose, please.

Lads!

Lads!

- Come on. - Get off! Ah!

That's good.

Next.

Woo-hoe'.!

Woo-hoo! Ha!

Woo-hoo!

Woo!

Mrs Lauer?

Good morning.

I would like to apologise

for the ill-judged comments I made about the little children last night.

No apology necessary.

I would like to understand them more.

To that end, I was wondering if you might

bring them to my classroom to paint.

Paint?

I have developed a therapy

where we invite children to paint without instruction or critique.

They choose the colours and the themes that they want.

I've discovered that this freedom allows their subconscious

to reveal itself upon the paper.

It would be fascinating to know what, uh...

the... the little leader...

Bela.

To see a visual representation of her psychology would be extraordinary.

I am taking them for a walk.

Come with.

They've got nee clothes on, just wandering around!

What they doing'?

I'll tell ya what, it's the sunshine, innit?

Aye!

What's ya name?

And why are you dressed like that?

THEY LAUGH

Perhaps wear some trousers next time!

Where did he get that from?

He's perfectly friendly!

It's not your dog, it's any dog.

Kinder!

Are these the Jewish children we've been told about?

- Some of them, yes. - Bela!

We were promised that land would be given back

to the local community after the war.

Why can't their own people take them?

Oh, well, most Jewish communities have been established in the cities.

Then send them to the cities.

That is the plan

once they have been revitalized with careful supervision.

It hardly seems fair that we should have to accommodate all these foreigners.

Madam...

are you aware what these children have been through?

The war has been terrible for everyone.

Not just for you people.

Kinder!

Bela!

Bela!

Come on, now!

Some boot and shoes...

"News-pap-er. "

"News-paper".

News-paper.

"Photo-graph". "Photograph".

Photo-graph.

It would be easier if you put out the cigarettes!

Who can say this?

"it is a plea-sure to meet you".

"Win-dow".

Yes.

English girls.

English girls?

- He like. - Likes English girls?

Um, Sala.

Watch and listen.

"Good afternoon".

"Good afternoon".

"Good afternoon".

"My name is Rabbi Weiss".

"My name is Sala Feiermann".

"My name is Benyak Helfgott".

"My name is Alek Herszlikowicz".

"My name is Itzek Alterman".

"My name is..."

Ephraim Minsburg!

"My name"...

"My name is Chaim Olmer"!

Mama...

I wonder if they will ever be free of night terrors.

Talking about it will help.

Starvation. Beatings.

Shootings. Hanging. Gassing.

All these were commonplace in their lives. What would you say?

Forget about all that and focus on the future?

First, I will listen.

A favourite game of the guards' was to put ground-up glass into our soup.

And watch some of us slowly bleed to death from within.

For those of us who remember a life before, these things were horrific.

But these children, they...

They grew up in that horror.

For them, it was normal.

If you ask them how they feel, they might just...

shrug.

I get the impression most don't want to talk about it.

They are more obsessed with the fate of their relatives.

Every day they ask when the Red Cross is coming.

Very nice.

Lovely.

Come on, lads! Put your back into it.

Is he very good...

or the rest very, very bad?

No real skill. But from his speed, his balance, his strength

he's clearly a natural athlete.

Amazing, considering.

Oscar, I've been contacted by the coach of a Windermere team

asking if we'd like to play a friendly with 'em.

A friendly? - Aye.

A match played as a gesture of friendship

from the local community to the children.

Is the team good? - Aye. Not bad.

Well, if you had eleven of him...

Probably.

Surely, what doesn't kill them makes them stronger?

I think they need to experience what they can do, not what they can't.

Tell your contact "thank you, but no".

Hold the ball!

Hello, love.

Look who it is. Go on.

You seen this, Malc?

Enjoying English ice-cream, are ya?

Here's something to remind you of home.

Georg...

Look at him.

Oh, he's pissed himself!

Enough.

Aye, aye, Malc.

What do you want? - Good afternoon, gentlemen.

You were attempting the Nazi salute?

SQ?

It is always the right arm.

Trust me, I'm German.

I'm also a Jew.

So, no Nazi.

Try.

Try.

Higher.

Now...

the boy you scared so much that he pissed himself

he's not German, he's Polish, as are the others.

They watched their families being slaughtered by the Nazis.

Do you understand? Slaughtered?

You should lower your arms, boys.

You look like fools.

None of us can imagine what they went through in their short lives.

Not you, not me.

I need your word that my children are safe to walk your streets.

From man to man.

What do you say?

Well, thank you so much.

Good day to you.

That's very good. Thank you.

That's very good. Thank you.

Come on, girls. I can't hear you singing.

And what about you fellas?

Just imagine you were...

...a nice little bit of stuff waiting for ya. Ha.

Now all together, boys!

Come with me.

Son, I've been a PE teacher for many years.

I've seen a lot of kids play all sorts of sports.

The most you can hope for is a modicum of enthusiasm

and the ability to put the right plimsoll on the right foot.

The number I've encountered with genuine physical ability is small

to say the least.

Do you understand a single word I'm saying?

Plimsoll...

You have natural talent.

But like any natural gift, you need to work at it to make the most of it

so, here's a book of exercises for you to look at.

If you're interested.

No.

For you.

Thank you, sir.

Forget any notion of competence.

Whether the child is a good or a bad artist is immaterial.

My interest only concerns what they paint.

How do these compare with children who survived the Blitz?

Despite being bombed daily, those children expressed themselves

as you would expect of those in good mental health.

Strong colours. Clear blue skies, shining suns.

Smiling faces... They painted happy times.

By contrast, these children depict their most painful memories

of losing family and identity.

And extreme violence.

It is as though they can no longer access the happy memories to draw upon.

"Jedem das Seine" was the--

The gate of Buchenwald, I know.

I'm sitting here all day, waiting... to talk to them

and here, they scream from the rooftops.

Before I came here...

I was determined to...

hold their experience at arms' length

to protect myself.

But how can you analyze these paintings?

How can you ignore the suffering on every page?

Week after week, I see this same level of extremity.

When I saw this one, I was overwhelmed by sadness.

I did something I have never done before.

Instinctively, I went to the boy and I held him.

Marie...

We feel compelled to respond as if they were our own children.

How does what we feel help them?

Tree.

Branch.

Twig.

Rain.

Water.

River.

Bird.

Flower.

Thank you.

You are Wei-come.

Kiss.

Lunch?

Hung“!-

Always.

Salek...

Yisgadal v'yiskadash sh'mei raba.

Amen.

Amen.

B'alma di-v'ra chirutei, v'yamlich malchutei

b'chayeichon uvyomeichon uvchayei d'chol beit yisrael

ba'agala uvizman kariv, v'im'ru.

Amen.

Amen.

Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varach Valam ul'almei almaya...

Yitbarach Wyishtabach, v'yitpa'ar Wyitromam Wyitnaseh

Wyithadar v'yit'aleh v'yit'halal sh'mei d'kud'sha

b'rich hu, I'eila min-kol-birchata Wshirata

tushbbhata Wnechemata da'amiran b'alma v'im'ru.

Amen.

Amen.

Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya 'aseh shalom aleinu...

v'al kol-yisrael, v'imru.

Amen.

Amen.

Sala!

Shh.

Salek?

Salek!

Sala?

Sala...

Eventually, when your strength is fully restored

and you've built a new life...

you will meet someone who will love you as much as you love them.

Focus on the game, boys!

Into the center! All of you.

Come on!

Down. Press-ups.

Now, please.

Right, 20.

Start again, with Ben.

Back on the floor, son. You've barely done five.

You same like guard I knew.

Same voice. Same face.

Same...

Whistle. - Whistle.

Back on the floor, son.

What do you want from me, son?

To go easy on you out of pity?

Is that how you're gonna live out there? Hm?

How long do you think pity lasts?

"Poor refugee children." - They're not just refugees.

Yeah, spare me the sermon, Rabbi. I know what they are.

You think in six months the real world will care?

Everyone suffered in the war.

Not like they have.

Folk don't walk around comparing misery and loss.

Arek...

Maybe no need to shout?

I wasn't shouting. Everyone speaks like this in Scotland.

Ben.

Perhaps just leave it.

Perhaps mind your own business, Rabbi. Ben!

I've developed more training for you. More advanced, now you're getting stronger.

You need to keep pushing yourself, son!

I am "son" of Moishe Helfgott.

Shot running away from death march.

Years, 37.

I say that not for pity.

For truth.

It's just an expression. I say it to everyone.

I not want you say it to me.

Please.

Understood.

The war's over, Berish.

They need to move forward.

Not so easy when everyone you love lies in the past.

Woo!!

I trust you enjoyed the eggs, gentlemen?

I trust you also enjoyed the other food that's gone missing?

And the knives, forks, spoons

plates, bowls, bicycles...

even a frying pan from the dining room.

Anything that isn't nailed down or locked up

is likely to disappear.

Yes?

A woman has just come from Windermere about a dog.

What kind of dog? - A missing one.

The local community has been very good to us.

Stealing from anyone is completely unacceptable.

But there will be no punishment.

Instead, I will respect you for having the courage

to live up to your responsibilities.

Did you take the dog?

Go and fetch it, please.

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

Unlike carpets, madam... children are not improved with beating.

Thank you.

Luau

Um...

Sorry. Madam.

Thank you, Juliusz.

The invitation to a friendly game of football between us and the locals

to foster good relations...

Now might be the time to reconsider.

In autumn, the weather gets cooler.

Who can say this?

In autumn, the weather gets cooler...

Come on, lads.

Press-ups. 30.

Well done.

Good luck in America.

We've always known this moment would come, but everything is being done

to help make the transition from Windermere as smooth as possible.

Everyone is determined to give each child the opportunity

to live a full and productive life.

We've made sure that every one of them has somewhere to go.

I wish I could say I feel they will be ready to leave.

I feel the same.

Well, what parent ever believes they have done enough

to prepare their children to fly the nest?

True.

Yet every forest floor is littered with bodies of young birds

pushed out before they were ready.

We are not "pushing them out".

Their departure is carefully planned and equally carefully supported.

Compared to when they arrived, the children are transformed!

Outwardly, aye.

Aye, they're fatter. Fitter.

They speak some decent English, but...

up here?

- Who knows? - You must understand...

if I had accepted the government's original offer

we would be sitting on milk crates in a hall

in Bethnal Green talking about ten children

not 300!

We have to accept there is neither a bottomless pit of money from the community

nor infinite goodwill from the Home Office.

I also want to do more for them.

Six months ago, they lived from one piece of rotting bread to the next.

Many had given up all hope.

Your compassion and skill has set them on their feet.

Because of you...

they now possess the tools to move on from here with confidence and hope.

Every day, relationships are forming before our eyes...

- And breaking apart. - Yes, but this is natural.

They are starting to behave like normal children their age.

In just four months.

It's extraordinary.

I applaud. I applaud each of you.

Keep up, lads!

Warm up, boys. Gather round.

Keep stretching, lads. - Mr Montefiore?

Mr Montefiore.

Have you heard news on my papers yet?

Oh, my dear boy. I have started the ball rolling.

The ball?

The ball is in motion. The wheels are turning.

With a fair wind and the continuous application of elbow grease

you shall have your papers in your name.

When?

That I can't say.

But can say...

eventually.

Welcome to England.

Boot

Laces“.

Fingers.

Hand.

Fist.

Open.

Empty-

Alone.

Family.

Family.

Family...

Grass.

Green.

Trees.

Green.

England is very green.

How good was that?

Throw in Calgarth! - Hope you've got your medical bag.

It's in the car if I need it.

Nice one, lad! You OK?

Tip-top, my dear. Very tip-top.

Thank you.

So kind.

You're welcome.

That's half time!

One-all. Have to hand it to you, your lads have been brutal but effective.

Haven't they just?

You're doing very well, lads. Very well indeed.

Individually, you two are a pair of footballing clowns

but when you work together, you're bloody lethal.

Keep it UP.

Same goes for the rest of you. Keep those tackles going in.

Er, might I interject?

Of course.

It's a wonderful performance, boys.

That said, this team that you've been playing so...

effectively...

they are the children of all those good people.

And without them, your stay in Windermere would have been impossible.

So perhaps, and this is merely a suggestion...

Mr Lawrence is your coach of course, not I, but perhaps you might consider

not breaking anyone's legs in the second half?

In the spirit of friendship.

What do you think, Mr Lawrence?

Aye, it's a thought.

Excellent.

Well done.

Well, boys, whatever happens, I'm sure you'll do us proud.

He say we lose game?

No, no, no.

What I think he's saying is sometimes it's less important to win badly

than to lose well.

"Lose well"?

To achieve something bigger than winning a game of football.

You understand?

Go and tell your team.

You see that? He just gave the ball away!

What's that about?

Is this a Jewish thing?

I've got it!

Get in!

Get in!

Excuse me!

I'm looking for Salek Falinower!

Salek?

I was informed that Salek Falinower was staying here!

No, this can't be...

Salek!

Chiel?

Bread is life.

None understand this better than you.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam

Hamotzi Iechem min haaretz.

Amen.

Thank you, Rabbi.

Ladies and gentlemen...

Esteemed guest.

After everything you've lost...

no children deserve to be given the world more than you.

But when you leave here, don't expect anything.

Don't grab whatever you want from the world

because you feel your suffering entitles you to it.

Earn your place in the world

as you have earned the friendships you've made here.

In Calgarth, you have forged a new family

with brothers and sisters who will be with you for the rest of your lives.

Take care of one another.

Be proud of who you are.

And what you've overcome.

And even if you struggle with the darkest of thoughts

be open to the wonders that life can offer.

Especially then.

To you, my dear children...

I 'haim.

I felt like living again.

More or less, everything opened up for me.

Erm...

I started feeling like I'm a human being again.

That's what Windermere did to me.

The memories are absolutely indescribable.

After all the hardship and hunger and disease and...

the good things started in Windermere.

It gave me a lot, because I made many friends.

This is the most important.

Because I was... I was not alone anymore.

Windermere is my first home in England

which means that I've always got an allegiance to it.

I am a citizen of a state.

I am proud of it.

A lot. A lot.

When I show my British passport, I know who I am.

First of all, we will forever be grateful.

for the British Government...

for giving us the opportunity...

...to go on with our lives.

Give us the opportunity...

to work here.

We could talk about the past, talk about experiences

more so than with anybody else.

Although we always have a little bit of a barney as well!

I'm a happy person.

And also...

I help... try to help my fellow human being as much as I can.