Irena’s Promise | A great lesson in humanity

It’s an impossible story. A completely crazy scenario. So much so that if it had not been inspired by a real-life event, Louise Archambault would simply not have embarked on the project.

“If it had been fiction, I would have refused! », confirms without hesitation the director (It was raining birds, The time of a summer), who finally jumped in with both feet into this incredible true story, sort of Schindler’s List feminine (although on a smaller scale!). Irena’s Vow (Irena’s Promise in French version) is a Canadian-Polish co-production, with Sophie Nélisse in the lead role, alongside Dougray Scott and Andrzej Seweryn (with music by Alexandra Stréliski), shot in Poland. A dream setting for a scenario that actually makes you dream.

Oser l’impensable

Le film, en salle le 19 avril, revient donc sur l’incroyable destin d’Irena Gut Opdyke (incarnée avec brio par une Sophie Nélisse en pleine possession de son personnage), infirmière polonaise de 19 ans, qui a osé l’impensable pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale : sauver 12 Juifs, presque au nez des Allemands, en les cachant dans la cave d’un haut officier chez qui elle travaillait à titre de gouvernante.

C’est après avoir vu un soldat allemand piétiner un enfant sous les yeux de sa propre mère que la jeune femme, à la base infirmière, s’est juré de sauver coûte que coûte une vie, chaque fois qu’elle le pourrait. Cette fameuse « promesse » est à l’origine de cette histoire à vous décrocher la mâchoire, allant de surprise en surprise, du début jusqu’à la toute fin (générique inclus). « C’est trop gros ! confirme Louise Archambault. Ça n’a pas de bon sens ! »

Et s’il fallait en rajouter une couche, sachez qu’en prime, à la première du film, à Toronto (TIFF) l’automne dernier, un très proche descendant d’un des fameux Juifs ici sauvés était présent. On devine l’émotion. Si certains doutaient qu’un seul geste puisse sauver des vies, « j’en suis la preuve vivante », a d’ailleurs dit l’homme de 80 ans, dans un discours chargé de reconnaissance, relate la réalisatrice.

Si la fameuse vraie Irena est aujourd’hui disparue, il faut savoir que le scénariste du film, Dan Gordon, l’a quant à lui personnellement connue. Il a eu vent de son histoire, quand, après avoir gardé son passé secret presque toute sa vie, elle a décidé de se raconter, en entendant des négationnistes remettre en question l’Holocauste aux États-Unis. À 70 ans sonnés, la dame, qui a immigré après la guerre, s’est donc improvisée conférencière. Bouleversé par son témoignage, Dan Gordon en a d’abord fait une pièce de théâtre (montée à Broadway), puis écrit un film.

Quand j’ai lu le scénario, je me suis dit : mais quelle histoire émouvante ! Quel sujet ! […] We must highlight this woman, her openness, her courage, her generosity!

Louise Archambault, director

It must be said that this Irena is inspiring, and she remains so to this day. “It seems like it’s still relevant today: through the horror of war, there is this openness towards others, this glimmer of hope, it nourished me! My God, what a beautiful transmission belt, this woman! […] There is a great humanity that I liked. »

Get into the character

Same enthusiasm on the part of Sophie Nélisse, very convincing as this courageous, determined young woman, but also infinitely naive. “She is an extraordinary woman who has accomplished so many great things. It was really important for me to be up to the task! she emphasizes. And then knowing that your daughter is still alive adds a layer of stress! »

So she read her memoirs, consulted the play, met the screenwriter, and immersed herself in the rare photos that existed from her youth, in addition to being accompanied by a coachto adopt the Polish accent (after having adopted the German accent in The book thief). Mission accomplished, it should be noted. “What struck me,” adds the actress, “is how bright she is, despite everything she’s been through, she has a smile on her lips, she’s so positive, it’s really fascinating, and This is really what I wanted to show through the film: yes, there are all the atrocities […]but also hope! […] And that’s what Irena’s message is! »

If you are still wondering, yes, at the risk of repeating ourselves, all the facts are true: from the hiding place in an air vent here to the tunnel there, and this hidden room in the cellar. Nothing was romanticized. Nor watered down. Even the downright difficult dilemma surrounding a potential pregnancy in captivity is true. Only rare modifications: certain details in the “temporality”, we allowed ourselves some shortcuts, and the murder of the child was apparently softened a little (imagine!). Finally, if Irena was actually raped by Russians, it is only and subtly alluded to in the film. As for the rest, “it’s very faithful!” », confirms Louise Archambault. Just like the ending, which we won’t tell you anything about, but which, once again, seems comically far-fetched. “This is the real story!” »

So, yes, reality actually goes beyond fiction, as the saying goes, which we have rarely seen more appropriate than here.

In theaters April 19