42 | APRIL 2 • 2020 Arts&Life review B ritish philanthropist Leonard Montefiore, a founder of World Jewish Relief, took a special interest in youngsters who survived concen- tration camp experiences of star- vation, deprivation, forced labor and separation from loved ones. With liberation, he joined caring volunteers to help hun- dreds of these youths regain their abilities, trust in others and the future. The transition unfolded at a tranquil estate along Lake Win- dermere in England. In the sum- mer of 1945, formerly impris- oned young people had food, their own rooms, classes, time to play and help from the Red Cross in learning about their families. This initiative is brought to life in very personal stories through the BBC docudrama The Windermere Children being aired April 5 on PBS. The 90-minute film, based on the testimony of orphaned survivors, was written by Simon Block and directed by Emmy-winner Michael Samuels. The torment of the past and activities to escape devastat- ing memories were made real through engrossing scenes of the youths responding to their new environment, first in desperation. Near a woman walking a domes- ticated dog, they express fears the animal was trained to be vicious. The cast includes Thomas Kretschmann (The Pianist), Romola Garai (The Miniaturist), Tim McInnerny (Strangers) and Iain Glen (Game of Thrones). Psychologist Oscar Friedmann (Kretschmann) is charged with looking after the children. He and his team — art therapist Marie Paneth (Garai), Montefiore (McInnerny) and sports coach Jock Lawrence (Glen) — work over four months to help chil- dren heal and reclaim their lives. A key element is the changing interaction with the British peo- ple living nearby, some harboring skepticism about refugees. The film shows the youngsters advancing by learning English, riding bikes and expressing their trauma through painting. Adding to the realism are scenes of con- tinuing anti-Semitism and efforts to overcome those challenges. Haunted by nightmares and wishing they could find family members, the children look to one another for meaningful relationships, which help them understand a world new to them. The impact of the experience is told in an epilogue that introduc- es successful seniors represented in their troubled adolescent years. They tell of their efforts to take charge of their own lives and rebuild after Windermere. Hearing the actual survivors brings an uplifting promise for the possibilities of tomorrow. The Windermere Children will air at 10 p.m. Sunday, April 5, on PBS and stream on the PBS video app. “The Windermere Children: In Their Own Words” will be streaming on PBS Passport. SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER PBS Scene from Windermere Children Escaping Memories Docudrama traces young survivors’ return to life. MichiganPropertyManagers.com MyRepairPros.com MetroSOLD.com LEASING - MANAGEMENT HOME REPAIRS BUY - SELL REMODELING-ELECTRICAL-PAINTING & More Let Old Friends be your Michigan-Florida Connection Keyes Real Estate Estate Property Sales from Listing to Clean-Out! BUY • SELL • I NVEST Throughout South Florida, Including Boca, Boynton, Delray, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties Nina Spinner-Sands NinaSpinner-Sands@keyes.com (954) 290-8293 Rita Morse RitaMorse@keyes.com (305) 609-7559 MEL DRYMAN Raised in Detroit, Experienced in Arizona Your Professional & Dedicated ARIZONA REALTOR Mobile: (480) 239-8686 mel.dryman@azmoves.com Each Office Independently Owned & Operated Contact Larry Al l an can’ t enj oy j ewel ry i f i t’ s si tti ng i n your safe deposi t box. Sel l or borrow on i t for i mmedi ate cash. We deal i n j ewel ry, watches, di amonds and coi ns. A Service to Private Owners, Banks & Estates 248-644-8565 Coins & Jewelry 042_DJN040220_AL windermere.indd 42 042_DJN040220_AL windermere.indd 42 3/30/20 2:41 PM 3/30/20 2:41 PM