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The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

  • TV Movie
  • 20092009
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
Official Trailer
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
9 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • War

The story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by s... Read allThe story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto.The story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Kent Harrison
  • Writers
    • John Kent Harrison
    • Larry Spagnola
    • Anna Mieszkowska(book "Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: The Story of Irena Sendler")
  • Stars
    • Anna Paquin
    • Goran Visnjic
    • Michelle Dockery
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Kent Harrison
  • Writers
    • John Kent Harrison
    • Larry Spagnola
    • Anna Mieszkowska(book "Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: The Story of Irena Sendler")
  • Stars
    • Anna Paquin
    • Goran Visnjic
    • Michelle Dockery
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 wins & 12 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler
    Trailer 0:32
    The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

    Photos9

    Anna Paquin and Goran Visnjic in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
    Anna Paquin in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
    Anna Paquin in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
    Anna Paquin and Steve Speirs in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
    Anna Paquin and Fiona Glascott in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
    Anna Paquin and Steve Speirs in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
    Anna Paquin and Rebecca Night in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)
    The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anna Paquin
    Anna Paquin
    • Irena Sendleras Irena Sendler
    Goran Visnjic
    Goran Visnjic
    • Stefan Zgrzembskias Stefan Zgrzembski
    Michelle Dockery
    Michelle Dockery
    • Ewa Rozenfeldas Ewa Rozenfeld
    Danuta Stenka
    Danuta Stenka
    • Hanna Rozenfeldas Hanna Rozenfeld
    Rebecca Windheim
    • Karolina Rozenfeldas Karolina Rozenfeld
    Sergei Novik-Marchenko
    • Jasioas Jasio
    • (as Sergei Marchenko)
    Paul Freeman
    Paul Freeman
    • Monsignor Godlewskias Monsignor Godlewski
    Leigh Lawson
    Leigh Lawson
    • Rabbi Rozenfeldas Rabbi Rozenfeld
    Nathaniel Parker
    Nathaniel Parker
    • Dr. Majkowskias Dr. Majkowski
    Marcia Gay Harden
    Marcia Gay Harden
    • Janina Krzyzanowskaas Janina Krzyzanowska
    Scott Handy
    Scott Handy
    • Michal Laskias Michal Laski
    Christoph Pieczynski
    Christoph Pieczynski
    • Dr. Janusz Korczakas Dr. Janusz Korczak
    • (as Krzysztof Pieczynski)
    Fiona Glascott
    Fiona Glascott
    • Mariaas Maria
    Steve Speirs
    Steve Speirs
    • Piotras Piotr
    Iddo Goldberg
    Iddo Goldberg
    • Jakub Rozenfeldas Jakub Rozenfeld
    Danny Webb
    Danny Webb
    • Trojanas Trojan
    Didzis Eglitis
    • German Soldieras German Soldier
    Ruby Bentall
    Ruby Bentall
    • Stefaniaas Stefania
    • Director
      • John Kent Harrison
    • Writers
      • John Kent Harrison
      • Larry Spagnola
      • Anna Mieszkowska(book "Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: The Story of Irena Sendler")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto.
    • the holocaust in poland
    • child rescue
    • german soldier
    • hiding place
    • seder
    • 16 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • War
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film's opening prologue states: "World War II rages through Europe. In occupied Poland, the Germans have established the Warsaw Ghetto for all the Jewish residents of the city. Over 440,000 Jews are forced inside its walls . . . There are some Poles who want to help . . . "
    • Quotes

      Irena Sendler [owa]: I remember what Father used to say. You see a man drowning, you must try to save him even if you cannot swim.

    • Connections
      Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

    User reviews19

    Review
    Top review
    Great Story In a Middling Production
    This is a TV movie (CBS) on the true life of Irena Sendler, who served as a nurse in Warsaw during World War II. She could see what was happening all around her and decided to do something about it. So she started getting Jewish children out and into Polish homes. This led her to being involved in the Polish underground. It was originally called 'The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler' and did not have a misrepresentative 'war' action cover either, as it does in the UK release – which is shameful in its money grubbing attempt to mislead the public.

    The film is told in linear style and traces her efforts right the way through the life of the ghetto. It is reasonably well made with some good period detail but it is also nakedly sentimental almost from the start. That is forgivable bearing in mind the subject matter.

    It does balance things up as it develops and we get some nasty Nazi's but this is not an action packed war movie it is a character driven story. It is really about the people who cared and risked their lives to save others. The acting is all adequate but some of the children really ought to think of an alternative career option (yes I know they are young – but so was Shirley Temple) and everyone speaks in English as this was made for US TV. It was filmed in Riga too so some very nice settings and in the end it is a brilliant way to remember another brave and kind woman who put others before herself.
    helpful•3
    1
    • t-dooley-69-386916
    • May 16, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 19, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • CBS
    • Languages
      • Polish
      • English
      • Russian
      • German
      • Latvian
      • Hebrew
    • Also known as
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (#58.3)
    • Production companies
      • Baltmedia
      • CBS
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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