Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness (2000) User Reviews

You gotta see this one....

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 7 September 2012]

This is an unforgettable story and the folks at PBS did a fine job pulling the story together. However, I should warn you--you might want to have some Kleenex handy as you watch--it's a pretty moving documentary.

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat who was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jews during WWII. However, instead of just throwing this information at the viewer, the film looks at the context---to help you understand the Japanese attitude towards Jews as well as what Sugihara was like as a person. The film does an excellent job on both accounts and paints a picture of a truly decent man who risked so much to try to save as many people as he could. Well crafted and moving.

By the way, a very, very similar story occurred during WWII with a German diplomat. While Nanking was being destroyed by Japanese troops and its people liquidated, Georg Rosen risked the wrath of his Nazi government by leading an international effort to save thousands of Chinese. Both stories are wonderful examples of people who had every reason to do nothing but chose to risk everything to do that which is right. Oddly, Rosen't case wasn't mentioned in the Sugihara film.

A work of greatness, testament to the highest good in humanity.

[totheeising · 10/10 · 17 April 2002]

One of the sweetest moments in this superb documentary is when Mr. Sugihara is given his opportunity to attain a kind of sainthood by helping the Jewish people who had nowhere else to turn and he, after contemplating for a while, realizes he can help and if he can help he will help -- in the face of possible censure from his own government and possible profound danger for himself and his family from the Nazis. This is a must see for all who believe that Goodness has a place in the human family. Additionally, it provides an invaluable lesson in a little-know aspect of the history of World War 2 and of the relationship between the Japanese and the Jewish people.

Like Schindler's List, sans the Hollywood gloss

[todd-ramirez · 10/10 · 24 June 2006]

I won't bother telling you what this film is about, because the site and other comments would have done that. Instead, I just wanna share my experience.

It was by accident, flipping channels, that I saw this documentary. It's like Schindler's List, only better. Twice through it, I couldn't hold back the tears. Few films do that to me. And few films move me so much for me to write about it. I was so moved I immediately shared the story with my parents, at one point my voice cracking. I also looked it up and to my delight, it is on DVD and I will buy it as soon as possible.

Mr. and Mrs. Sugihara, you are most deserving to be crowned heroes. A testament to the idea that the human spirit is alive and well, you just had to kick at the darkness till it bled daylight.

Humanitarian conduct in the face of evil immortalized

[frances_morey · 10/10 · 14 May 2005]

It was most heartening to witness the PBS premier Thursday, May 5, 2005, of "Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness," a crowning achievement for the producers and film makers whose dedicated efforts culminated in the national broadcast of this important award winning film. It is a profoundly touching story--inspired and inspiring. Chiune Sugihara's life is a monument to the possibility of humanitarian conduct amidst a virtual tsunami of evil. That is the profoundly hopeful message it held for me. The biography affirms this man's fundamental human decency, along with his humility and grace. In these politically brutal times a documentary about one gentleman doing the right thing despite placing his reputation and career in jeopardy contrasts so drastically with cabal style leadership that it is like a beacon of light in a stormy sea. Learning about this selfless, caring and concerned individual diplomat is most welcome in an era when clutching power by the throat and holding on with a death grip trumps ethics as though power itself is justification for both means and end. This film attests to and underscores the magnitude of good made possible by one courageous man with pen and ink on paper. In the decades that have elapsed since his brave flurry of decisive administrative actions during a critical time in history the film reveals how his kindness virtually extrapolated many times over. The film makers were able to trace the lives of those who Sugihara was able to rescue to discover many thousands of most grateful descendants. It is a hopeful and heartwarming story most deserving of documentary enshrinement with the telling and retelling that film makes possible.

An outstanding dramatic documentary with incredible historical significance storical significance.

[bettiem · 10/10 · 3 June 2005]

The story of Chiune Sugihara and his outstanding bravery under dangerous conditions just before World War II is a must-see for freedom loving people. The movie feels like a sad work of fiction, but it is all absolutely true. The lives that Mr. Sugihara saved have resulted in the continuing existence of 40,000 people of four generations. I wish I could go to Japan to see the beautiful and sensitive memorial that has finally been built and dedicated to him. I wish I could go to Israel to see his memorial in the memorial garden for the Righteous. He died before the world decided to honor him. I am recommending this documentary to everyone I know, and urge PBS to publicize it.

The most powerful and inspiring documentary ever.

[anups · 10/10 · 28 October 2003]

At the Asian Pacific Film Festival of Florida (2003.10.26 - a sub-festival within Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival - FLIFF.com), I was left speechless after witnessing this documentary. I really enjoyed 'Bowling for Columbine' and thought it was informative. However, it doesn't even compare with the feelings that "Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness" left in me. In addition to its powerful voice, this was inspiring as well - to know that one person can make such a great difference which will evolve geometrically as time progresses makes one rethink his worth. There was even one Sugihara Survivor at the emotional sold out screening.

The filmmaker is facing an uphill battle in terms of getting sponsorship to broadcast the documentary.

Chiune Sugihara's True story "Conspiracy of Kindness" = Ultimate tale of Courage by way of Compassion!

[Ed-from-HI · 10/10 · 10 May 2019]

A most extraordinary documentary film by writer-director Robert Kirk and producer Diane Estelle Vicari entitled "Sugihara - Conspiracy of Kindness" telling the true story of Japanese Diplomat Chiune Sugihara whose absolute empathy-compassion protecting/ saving the very lives of up to 10,000 Jewish refugees in Lithuania (many also from neighboring Poland), exhibiting incredible acts of boundless courage, with very few precedents in human-history = only a rare few other examples like Raoul Wallenberg (originally from Sweden), Irena Sendler (Poland), Dimitar Peshev (Bulgaria), of course Oskar Schindler (immortalized in Spielberg's great-film) can even begin to compare to this extraordinary level of intrepid altruism and keen foresight (and of course extreme 'kindness')

However, in many ways, Chiune Sugihara's story is unique in the sense that he seemed to be acting completely of his own accord as an 'individual' (with no ostensible support from outside 'resistance' groups or from his own Japanese government = i.e. his own government seemingly unaware at the time of Sugihara's courageous-actions-of-conscience to write/issue Life-saving Visa's for the desperate Jewish families seeking to escape Hitler's and Third Reich's murderous grasp. As Vice-consul for Japan in Kaunas, Lithuania Chiune Sugihara tirelessly wrote as many 'escape' Visa's as was humanly-possible (even going far beyond the mere 'possible') = ultimately issuing 6,000 such Visa's (and towards the end of his tenure, was writing them at a furious rate of up to 20hours per day, literally up to the very moment he was forced to leave Lithuania) - because a number of these were 'family' Visas = the total number saved could be as high as 10,000 (with approx. 40,000 descendants today!)

Sugihara's amazingly-inspiring courage leads all of us to ask the following question: how was Chiune Sugihara able to directly tap into this wellspring of compassion/empathy = enough to drive him to intensive action with no worry about the personal consequences to his own future well-being (acting completely alone with no outside support) - especially at the very time when much of the rest of the World was closing its doors to these desperate Jewish refugees and families (with absolutely no safe harbor) - remember Sugihara's Life-saving actions took place at the very beginning of WWII in Europe, before there was evidence of emerging mass 'death-camps' (which makes Sugihara's pro-action & initiative seem quite prescient in hindsight)

Fortunately Chiune Sugihara did receive honor as one of "Righteous Among the Nations" at Yad Vashem in 1985 (one year before he died). And Sugihara is the only Japanese citizen granted this honor to date (although Ho Feng-Shan from China-Taiwan was awarded the designation in 2000)