Watch The Children of Chabannes

The Children of Chabannes is a powerful and moving documentary film from 1999 that tells the story of a small village in France that became a haven for Jewish children during World War II. The film, directed by Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell, combines archival footage and interviews with survivors to create a touching and inspiring portrait of human kindness and courage in the face of unimaginable evil.

At the heart of the film are the children themselves, many of whom were orphaned or separated from their families as a result of the Nazi occupation of France. Through their testimony, we come to understand just how dire their situation was, as they faced the constant threat of deportation and death at the hands of the Nazis. Yet despite the horrors that surrounded them, they were able to find hope and solace in the unlikely setting of Chabannes, a remote village in the Haute-Vienne region of France.

The story of Chabannes begins with a man named Leon Blum, a Jewish socialist who served as prime minister of France in the late 1930s. When war broke out, Blum was arrested by the Vichy government and sent to a concentration camp. But before he was taken away, he managed to arrange for a group of Jewish children to be sent to Chabannes, where a group of compassionate locals had agreed to care for them.

Over the next few years, Chabannes became a sanctuary for hundreds of Jewish children, who were sheltered by local farmers, teachers, and others who risked their own lives to protect them. The film vividly captures the sense of camaraderie and solidarity that developed among the children and their caretakers, as they worked together to create a sense of normalcy in the midst of chaos and danger.

The Children of Chabannes is especially noteworthy for the way it documents the complex network of relationships that sustained the village during this period. Through interviews with survivors and archival footage, we are introduced to many of the individuals who helped make the sanctuary of Chabannes possible. These range from the small group of teachers and farmers who took in the children to the larger network of resistance fighters and sympathizers who provided them with food, shelter, and protection.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is the way it illuminates the tensions that existed within this network. While the residents of Chabannes were largely united in their commitment to protect the children, they were also divided by their political and personal beliefs. Some were socialists or communists, while others were staunch Catholics or conservatives. Yet despite these differences, they were able to put aside their disagreements in service of a shared goal.

Another key theme of the film is the question of what it means to be human in the face of inhumanity. It is heartrending to see the children and their caretakers struggling to maintain their humanity in a world that seemed determined to strip them of it. Yet through these struggles, they were able to create a sense of community and connection that transcended the boundaries of race and religion.

Overall, The Children of Chabannes is an unforgettable tribute to the power of human compassion and resilience. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity, and a reminder of the importance of standing up for one another in times of crisis. Through its vivid storytelling and powerful imagery, it offers a powerful reminder of the ongoing relevance of the Holocaust, and the need to continue to learn from its lessons.

The Children of Chabannes is a 1999 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0.