In 1939, an unassuming Portuguese diplomat named Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a married family man in his 60s, is appointed as a consul in Bordeaux. In 1940, as German troops swarm across France he defies his superiors and the orders of the dictator Salazar by issuing thousands of visas for entry into Portugal. In doing so, he enables almost 30,000 people including 10,000 Jews to escape the barbarity of the Nazi regime.
Directed by: Joël Santoni, 2009
Screenplay, adaptation and dialogue: José-Alain Fralon, Jean-Carol Larrive and Joël Santini
Original idea: Martine Chicot
Music: Serge Franklin
With: Bernard Le Coq (Aristides de Sousa Mendes / Cesar de Sousa Mendes), Roger Sousa (Seabra), Nanou Garcia (Angelina de Sousa Mendes), Frédéric Quiring (Rabbi Kruger), Emilie-Scarlett Moget (Andrée Cibial), Lionel Lingelser (Pedro Nuno de Sousa Mendes), Paolo Matos (Salazar) and Frédéric Kneip (Pesao)
Genre: historical made-for-television film
Parental guidance information: Not recommended for children under the age of 10 (-10)
