Irena’s Vow movie storyline. Through the eyes of a strong-willed woman comes the remarkable true story of Irena Gut Opdyke and the triumphs of the human spirit over devastating tragedy. 19-year-old Irena Gut is promoted to housekeeper in the home of a highly respected Nazi officer when she finds out that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated.
Determined to help twelve Jewish workers, she decides to shelter them in the safest place she can think of: the basement of the German commandant’s house. Over the next two years, Irena uses her wit, humor, and courage to hide her friends until the end of the German occupation, concealing them in the midst of countless Nazi parties, a blackmail scheme, and even the birth of a child. Her story is one of the most inspiring of our time.
Irena’s Vow (Polish: Przysięga Ireny) is a 2023 Canadian-Polish war drama film, directed by Louise Archambault. It premiered in the Centrepiece program at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film is scheduled for commercial release in 2024.
Written by Dan Gordon who also wrote the Broadway play Irena’s Vow. the film stars Sophie Nélisse as Irena Gut Opdyke, a Polish nurse who helped to shelter and protect Jewish people during the Holocaust by hiding them in the cellar of the home where she was employed as a housekeeper by Nazi officer Eduard Rügemer (Dougray Scott).
The cast also includes Andrzej Seweryn, Eliza Rycembel, Maciej Nawrocki, Aleksandar Milicevic, Tomasz Tyndyk and Nela Maciejewska. The film was shot in 2022 in Warsaw and Lublin, Poland, a short distance from the Ukrainian border.
Awards and nominations
2023 Winner: Audience Award,
Vancouver International Film Festival
2023 Winner: LIUNA People’s Choice Award,
Windsor International Film Festival
2023 Nominee: WIFF Prize in Canadian Film,
Windsor International Film Festival
Irena’s Vow (2024)
Przysięga Ireny
Directed by: Louise Archambault
Starring: Sophie Nélisse, Dougray Scott, Andrzej Seweryn, Maciej Nawrocki, Sharon Azrieli, Aleksandar Milicevic, Eliza Rycembel, Agata Turkot, Filip Kosior, Krzysztof Szczepaniak, Irena Melcer
Screenplay by: Dan Gordon
Production Design by: Joanna Bialousz
Cinematography by: Paul Sarossy
Film Editing by: Arthur Tarnowski
Costume Design by: Malgorzata Zacharska
Set Decoration by: Joanna Bialousz
Art Direction by: Marcin Aziukiewicz
Music by: Alexandra Stréliski
MPAA Rating: R for some strong violence and brief sexuality.
Distributed by: Fathom Events (United States)
Release Date: September 10, 2023 (TIFF), March 18, 2024 (United States)
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