Irena Gut Opdyke film starts filming in Poland

In my Google feed today I found out a movie called Irena’s Vow was shooting in Poland. As I clicked the article and read the story I immediately became excited. While Irena’s Vow is based on a Broadway play by Dan Gordon who is also the scriptwriter for the film, it’s also based on a true story. Canadian actress Sophie Nelisse best known for being in Yellow jackets and The Book Theif is playing Irena Gut Opdyke, Dougary Scott from My Week With Marilyn and Ever After is also staring in the film as well as getting other European actors. Irena Gut Opdyke was a Polish Catholic nurse (not to be confused with Irena Sendler who was also polish and a catholic nurse who rescued Polish Jews) who risked her life to save 12 Polish Jews from being murdered by the Nazis.

 Irena hid her Jewish friends in nazi officer Eduard Rugemer’s basement in his villa. While Rugemer was out her friends she was hiding would help her clean. Unfortunately one day Rugemer came home early and the secret was found out. Rugemer agreed to keep Irena’s secret if she became his mistress. Irena was awarded the Righteous Among The Nations meal in an attempt to save the Jewish people. In 1995 Opdyke was honored with a papal blessing from Pope John Paul II. I read Irena’s story in her novel “In My Hands Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer,” when I was in highschool. I wasn’t reading it for a project but because I’ve always loved to read. I won’t spoil anymore about Irena but I do suggest you read her book she was an amazing woman who risked her life doing what’s right.