As part of the 29th Holocaust Education Week The Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation presents

Irena Sendler's Children
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
Bloor Cinema
506 Bloor Street West (at Bathurst) Toronto, ON M5S 1Y3 Phone: (416) 516-2330 / 2331

The North American debut of the feature film Irena Sendler's Children (Polish: Dzieci Ireny Sendlerowej) will be shown at a special screening in Toronto during Holocaust Education Week and renowned, Emmy award-winning Canadian-American director John Kent Harrison, who produced, directed and co-wrote the script, will be the guest speaker for this event. Produced in Warsaw and based on Anna Mieszkowska's book with the same title, the movie was premiered in Gdansk on August 31, 2009, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion and the outbreak of World War II, and on the 29th anniversary of Solidarity (Solidarnosc). The Polish version of the film is not destined for distribution in North America, so this may be the only showing in Canada.

The film is tells the true story of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Irena Sendler, née Krzyzanowska, a Polish Catholic social worker, who was part of the Polish underground and the Zegota resistance organization during World War II. She was arrested and brutally tortured by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children during the Shoah by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto. On the day of her scheduled execution, Irena was rescued by Zegota, which had also helped her rescue the children as well as many adults. This courageous woman, who lived in Poland to the age of 98, was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous among the Nations. She was also honoured by the Poland's Senate and was the recipient of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian decoration. Among her many honours, Irena also received the Jan Karski Award "For Courage and Heart" and a personal letter from Pope John Paul II praising her wartime efforts.

This production is the theatrical version of The Hallmark Hall of Fame CBS television presentation The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler that aired on April 19, 2009, the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and which won an Emmy Award and was nominated for three. Both versions of the movie were produced, directed and co-written by John Kent Harrison, who also directed the television mini-series on Pope John Paul II starring John Voight as well as many award-winning films and TV mini-series.

Starring Academy Award winners Anna Paquin (the Canadian actress who portrays Irena Sendler) and Marcia Gay Harden (who plays Irena's mother), the cast also includes Goran Visnjic (Dr. Luka Kovac of television's ER fame) as Stefan, well-known British actor Paul Freeman as Monsignor Godlewski, Polish actor Krzysztof Pieczynski who plays Dr. Janusz Korczak and one of Poland's leading actresses Danuta Stenka who plays the Rabbi's wife. Polish composer Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, who won an Oscar for Best original score for the movie Neverland, wrote the film's music.

Mr. Harrison will discuss his experiences in creating this important saga. Also present will be Renata Skotnicka Zajdman, a consultant on the film who was one of the children saved by Zegota and who became a very close friend of Irena Sendler.

Irena Sendler's Children© · 93 Minutes · Polish with English and Hebrew subtitles
. Sponsored by The Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation
With generous support of The Canadian Polish Congress
And special thanks to Hallmark Hall of Fame and K&K Selekt Film
Free admission · Donations welcome

The Bloor Cinema is located around the corner from the Bathurst subway station.

www.pjhftoronto.ca
www.holocausteducationweek.com
www.bloorcinema.com