The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

This week’s film tells the true story of Irena Sendler, a Catholic social worker in Poland who helped save the lives of thousands of Jewish children during World War II.

In Nazi-occupied Warsaw, the Jewish population is forced into the confines of the Warsaw Ghetto. Sympathizing with their plight, Irena realizes a terrible truth: that the Nazis’ “resettlement” plans for the Jews mean death in a concentration camp. Posing as a nurse, Irena sets out to try and convince Jewish parents to let her smuggle their children to safety outside the ghetto.

With a small network of help, Irena and others begin their operations, with Irena meticulously documenting childrens’ identities and placement, assuring parents that they’ll be reunited with their children after the war. But the heroic mission grows increasingly dangerous for all involved as the Nazis become aware of her secret operations.

Both somber and inspiring, the film showcases Irena Sendler’s unrelenting courage, even in the face of torture and the threat of execution. The film is rated PG, but does include some mild violence which may be distressing for very young viewers.

Runtime: 1 hours, 35 minutes
Rated PG
IMDb Parents Guide
Is it streaming?
Watch on YouTube (free with ads)