The Windermere Children

Synopsis

August, 1945. A coachload of children arrive at the Calgarth Estate by Lake Windermere.

They are child survivors of the Nazi Holocaust that has devastated Europe’s Jewish population. Carrying only the clothes they wear and a few meagre possessions, they bear the emotional and physical scars of all they have suffered.

Charged with looking after them is Oscar Friedmann, a German-born child psychologist. He and his team of counsellors have just four months to help the children reclaim their lives. By the lake, in sunshine and rain the children eat, learn English, play football and ride bikes. They yearn for news of their loved ones every day, and meanwhile they are invited to express their trauma through painting. Some locals taunt them but they are embraced by others. A number of the older children steal and they are haunted by nightmares. Nevertheless, it is in this environment that they begin to heal.

Eventually, letters from The Red Cross arrive with the terrible confirmation that for nearly all the children their siblings and parents have been murdered. One child, however, is convinced that his brother survived.

The Windermere Children is the stark, moving and ultimately redemptive story of the bonds they make with one another, and of how the friendships forged at Windermere become a lifeline to a fruitful future. In the absence of relatives, they find family in each other.

Reviews

THE TIMES *****
THE TELEGRAPH *****
THE DAILY MAIL *****
THE GUARDIAN ****
EVENING STANDARD *****
THE INDEPENDENT ****

Impressively devoid of sentimentality, grim in its facts, and moving in its portrait of the determined effort to rescue these young lives.

The Wall Street Journal, Dorothy Rabinowitz

Every now and then, something comes along that reminds you just how powerful television can be; just how much it can touch you and move you, leaving you emotionally battered and yet profoundly grateful for the experience of having watched. The Windermere Children is one such drama.

The Radio Times, Eleanor Bley Griffiths

It is rare indeed to find a television dramatisation, even one concerned, as here, with the Holocaust, that exercises such a raw emotional power.

The Independent, Sean O’Grady

There’s no bombast, no histrionics in the film. It’s full of quietly devastating moments.

Irish Independent, Pat Stacey

The most powerful moments come in the final few minutes when the drama stops and the teenage Polish actors playing Holocaust survivors are suddenly replaced by the survivors themselves – real people, still alive, talking about their happy and fulfilled lives. It seems more than just a familiar device to show that the film is based on actual people and true events. Seeing these men smiling, thriving, provides an unexpectedly optimistic conclusion.

The Guardian, Amelia Gentleman

This drama’s strength was in its understatement, the orphans’ experiences eked out delicately, the temptation to ramp things up for dramatic effect resisted. Atrocity needs no loud-hailer.

The Times, Carol Midgley

Writer Simon Block and director Michael Samuels gave us a sad and beautiful film.

The Telegraph, Anita Singh

Superb feature-length drama.

Evening Standard, Katie Law

Awards

• Prix Europa 2020: Best European TV Movie or Mini-series of the Year
• Shanghai Int’l TV Festival 2020 – Magnolia Award: Nominated for Best Foreign TV Film/Miniseries
• BAFTA TV 2021: Nominated for Best Single Drama
• Prix Italia 2021: Nominated for TV Drama

Credits

Thomas Kretschmann

Oscar

Romola Garai

Marie Paneth

Iain Glen

Jock Lawrence

Tim McInnerny

Leonard Montefiore

Konstantin Frank

Rabbi Weiss

Marcel Sabat

Berish

Philipp Christopher

George Lauer

Anna Schumacher

Edith Lauer

BJ Hogg

Dr Willenshaw

Ali White

Mrs Walker

Thomas Finnegan

Chiel Falinower

Pascal Fischer

Ben Helfgott

Marek Wroblewski

Sam Laskier

Anna Maciejewska

Sala

Tomasz Studzinski

Arek

Jakub Sprenger

Ike Alterman

Kacper Swietek

Chaim Olmer

Tara Cush

Yvonne

Jakub Jankiewicz

Salek

Lukasz Zieba

Sevek/Juliusz

Cal O’driscoll

Malcolm

India Angermann-Wajs

Toddler 1

Alicia Pokladecka

Bela

Colm Mccready

Malcolm’s Friend

Jonathan Cameron

Malcolm’s Friend 1

Director

Michael Samuels

Producer

Alison Sterling

Writer

Simon Block