Educational Media Reviews Online

Nicky’s Family is the profoundly human story of British stockbroker Nicholas Winton who, at the age of 29, campaigned to find countries who would take in nearly 700 Czech and Slovak child refugees who were about to be left parentless by Nazi occupation. Winton launched an impressive solo operation, soliciting families to adopt the children; he was able to find homes for them in Britain and Sweden. And when war broke out and he couldn’t rescue children anymore, Nicky flew for the armed forces. The children did not know who their savior was until 1988 when Nicky’s wife found in their attic a scrapbook that he had made of the children’s photographs and records. Nicky had kept his initiative a secret until then. Today, the children Nicky saved have expanded into families of 5700 people. And if the story itself and the humble yet heroic character of Sir Winton weren’t enough, we can surely smile at the fact that he is still around—at the astonishing age of 105—to receive the attention he deserves.

As much as the film recounts the tale of Nicky’s generosity, it is a call to action for viewers to pay it forward. Several of the rescued children talked about how they could repay Nicky for his courage and generosity. One gentleman gave up a career working on missiles and built a church. Others volunteer in soup kitchens and children’s hospitals. The children and grandchildren of the rescued children also talk about their plans to give to others by donating to Locks of Love, creating a multiracial girls club, providing food and healthcare for needy children in Cambodia. Even Nicky, in the winter of his life, has raised money to open a home for Alzheimer’s patients!

The film is narrated by Joe Schlesinger, a Canadian television journalist and one of the rescued children. Footage includes that of Nicky being knighted by the Queen Mother, along with a testimony by the Dalai Lama. There are fascinating interviews with a number of the rescued children, as well as interviews with Nicky himself (who describes his venture as an operation without end). Children who tried to reconnect with their birth parents after the war explained that they found that their parents and siblings who were not sent away were gassed at concentration camps. The film editing is strong and creative, with seamless transitions between reenactment scenes and authentic footage and photographs. The film nicely balances heartbreak (the adult refugees recall the moments their birth parents told them they had to leave to go to another country) with hope (we hear moving stories of the children’s first impressions of their foster families).

The film is historic, heartwarming, and inspiring, and would find a welcome place in history and sociology classes. Highly recommended.

Awards

More than 30 audience and critic awards, selected awards include
• Winner, Best Documentary Award, Victoria Film Festival
• Audience Award Winner, Best Documentary, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival