The Rescuers, a documentary produced by Joyce D. Mandell[1] and directed by Michael W. King, sheds light on the untold stories of 12 courageous diplomats who, at considerable personal risk, saved tens of thousands of Jews during World War II.

The film follows Stephanie Nyombayire, a young activist from Rwanda who lost 100 family members in the Rwandan Genocide, and Sir Martin Gilbert, a prominent historian specializing in the 20th century and the Holocaust, as they travel through 15 countries and three continents to interview survivors and descendants of the diplomats.

Nyombayire and Gilbert explore the concepts of "the enigma of kindness" and "ethical bravery amid peril" while considering past atrocities, aiming to understand what actions should be taken to halt ongoing genocides such as the one in Darfur.

[2] During World War II, many non-Jewish diplomats defied their governments, sacrificing their careers, families, and livelihoods to save people they had no personal connection with.

The film incorporates archival footage and combines documentary elements with dramatic re-enactments, transporting audiences from Sir Martin's library in London to the streets of the Champs-Élysées in Paris and then to the Sacred Valley of Destroyed Communities at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

The documentary aims to foster discussions among current government officials and their diplomatic envoys globally, urging them and the wider community to harness their moral influence and authority to safeguard endangered lives worldwide.

Background Upon receiving a call from producer Joyce D. Mandell,[3] director Michael King initiated The Rescuers project, drawing inspiration from the heroic actions of the diplomats.

Recognizing the compelling nature of the story, Mandell proposed the creation of a documentary to bring this lesser-known narrative to a wider audience, leading to her collaboration with King.

I drew parallels to Steven Spielberg's ability to create the film "The Color Purple," highlighting the potential for diverse perspectives on sensitive topics.

Nyombayire swiftly expressed her keen interest in a project that sheds light on the courageous actions of those who stood up for their beliefs and underscores the potential of this story to inspire bystanders to combat genocide.

When searching for a narrator and companion for Nyombayire in the film, King met Sir Martin Gilbert, a distinguished Holocaust historian who had endured the loss of several family members during that period.

She stated, "I realized that we have the responsibility to record its path so that it can be comprehended and not repeated.”[4] Accompanied by Sir Martin, King journeyed to Jerusalem and commenced extensive research at Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, in Israel.

With the guidance of Irena Steinfeldt, the director of the Righteous Department, King successfully obtained the names of the diplomats’ descendants and Holocaust survivors, enabling him to subsequently arrange meetings and conduct interviews with them.

Within the context of The Rescuers, 12 diplomats are spotlighted, a selection informed by three primary criteria: the efficacy in saving lives, the emotional and dramatic elements of each account, and the intention to challenge stereotypes.

Duckwitz, a member of the Nazi Party and the German Attaché in Copenhagen defied expectations by facilitating the transport of Danish Jews to safety in Sweden, ultimately safeguarding 7,200 individuals.

A second notable figure is Selahattin Ulkumen, a Muslim diplomat serving as the official Turkish Consul on the Greek Island of Rhodes, who has been credited with protecting generations of Jews.

Throughout the production of The Rescuers, the entire crew encountered significant emotional challenges, particularly Sir Martin Gilbert and Nyombayire, due to the sensitive subject matter.

Confronting the enormity and resilience of evil proved to be the most daunting task; however, he drew strength from the understanding that narrating the story of the rescuers was vital for persevering through hardships.

Furthermore, Nyombayire underscores the ongoing suffering of the people of Darfur and the perpetual absence of substantial international intervention despite enduring similar crises for years.

In their scholarly exploration, Nyombayire and Sir Martin examined the preparatory groundwork associated with orchestrating the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide, obtaining a more profound understanding of the diplomatic endeavors.

Her poignant reflections were intensified by the distressing recollections of her family members' dehumanization and brutal demise, accentuating her profound disillusionment with the international community's lack of action.

It is disheartening that my family, along with one million other Rwandans, lost their lives not merely due to unlearned lessons, but also because the United Nations actively chose not to take action.” The filming of The Rescuers presented not only emotional challenges but also logistical difficulties.

The production encountered visa issues, theft, and intermittent train delays or Breakdowns, prompting the unconventional decision to transport all equipment and crew from Bordeaux to Biarritz via bus.

of the Federal Republic of Germany; Birgitta Tazelaar, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the U.S.; and Ellen Germain, the U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues.

Before the screening of the film, Director/Producer Michael W. King was presented with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by Congressman John B. Larson for his accomplished 35 years of commitment and service to humanitarian and artistic endeavors.""WUSA".

With that developed the Rescuers Last Chance Project, a "race against time" to identify the people who knew the remaining diplomats and Holocaust survivors who benefited from their assistance, in telling those stories.

Throughout the film, van Brugge skillfully incorporated traditional instruments representative of each country, thereby creating a distinct and culturally rich auditory experience.

The virtuous may be driven by religious faith, parental guidance, or a profound personal grasp of principles such as morality and autonomous choice - the capacity to act based on one's conscience, even in challenging circumstances.

"It instills in me a sense of hope that if individuals were willing to jeopardize their lives, careers, and families to rescue others, perhaps this level of altruism could become the norm rather than the exception.” It is worth noting that King and Billy Bingham had been childhood friends.

Along with Varian Fry, Bingham was involved in saving tens of thousands of Jews, among them renowned figures such as Marc Chagall and other prominent artists and writers.