Weapons of the Spirit (1986)

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In this historical documentary, a small French village goes against the Vichy government by saving 5,000 Jews from falling into the hands of the Nazis during World War II. Director and narrator Pierre Sauvage's parents were among those who were hidden by the townsfolk. The villagers were descendants… More In this historical documentary, a small French village goes against the Vichy government by saving 5,000 Jews from falling into the hands of the Nazis during World War II. Director and narrator Pierre Sauvage's parents were among those who were hidden by the townsfolk. The villagers were descendants of the Huguenots, who knew what is was like to be in the minority in the mostly Catholic region. Newsreels show the persecution of Jews in Paris and other locales where over 75,000 were willingly handed over to the Nazis. The villagers interviewed believed it was "the normal thing to do" to risk their lives helping the viciously hunted people. History shows most of the rest of France did not do the same and were willful collaborators with the Germans in the active persecution of the Jews. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi