"Whoever saves one life saves the entire world."
Hebrew proverb
During World War II and following the German occupation of France, thousands of Jews decided to flee that country by crossing the Lleida Pyrenees to Spain.
They were helped in this effort by their own organizations and the French Resistance and¿very importantly, in their journey through the rugged territory¿by Catalan mountain guides who put their own lives at risk as well to smuggle people to safety.
Between 5,000 and 7,000 Jews managed to reach the Spanish border. Many of them were sent back to France and handed over to the German authorities, while other were fortunate enough to reach their goal: arrive in Barcelona from where they could then move on to Palestine, America or North Africa.
The documentary revisits the anguish faced by men, women and children, trudging through the darkness and fog, seeking safety in hideouts in the attempt to avoid the border patrols, and living with ever-present fear. Memories which will never be forgotten by the anonymous individuals who recount their stories in this documentary, also reminding viewers of the important role the Pyrenees and its people played through offering a path to freedom.
This valuable document honors the memory of those who fled from persecution and as well as of those who helped make that possible.
They were helped in this effort by their own organizations and the French Resistance and¿very importantly, in their journey through the rugged territory¿by Catalan mountain guides who put their own lives at risk as well to smuggle people to safety.
Between 5,000 and 7,000 Jews managed to reach the Spanish border. Many of them were sent back to France and handed over to the German authorities, while other were fortunate enough to reach their goal: arrive in Barcelona from where they could then move on to Palestine, America or North Africa.
The documentary revisits the anguish faced by men, women and children, trudging through the darkness and fog, seeking safety in hideouts in the attempt to avoid the border patrols, and living with ever-present fear. Memories which will never be forgotten by the anonymous individuals who recount their stories in this documentary, also reminding viewers of the important role the Pyrenees and its people played through offering a path to freedom.
This valuable document honors the memory of those who fled from persecution and as well as of those who helped make that possible.
