This powerful film tells the story of the Portuguese diplomat Aristide de Sousa Mendes, who was the consul in Bordeaux at the outset of World War II and willfully violated the orders of the Portuguese dictator Salazar to issue ~30,000(!) visas (over one week!) to Jews and other refugees seeking to flee the Nazis and enter Portugal, a neutral country. It’s a moving film (in French, but with good English subtitles) that illustrates the transformative power of faith. De Sousa Mendes’ Catholic faith and ecumenical spirit – he was inspired and aided by a refugee rabbi – drove him to risk everything to aid those in need.

Paul Velleman (ILR) and Chris Barrett, each the child of a young person who escaped thanks to a de Sousa Mendes visa, will offer a few personal thoughts afterwards.

For more information about this film, visit sousamendesfilm.com.