The Critics Rave About "The Children of Chabannes". . .
A Candle of Heroism in France's Dark Night.
- Alan Riding, The New York Times
If you’re looking for a dose of reality, the best-in-class is Lisa Gossels’ very personal The Children of Chabannes... a seamless memoir of courage and a tribute to the human spirit. Superbly crafted.
- Jack Mathews, The NY Daily News
A magical first-hand account of heroism and community. What makes The Children of Chabannes unique as a Holocaust survivor documentary is how bright and under-traumatized the children turned out to be as adults, how clear-eyed their time in Chabannes seems to have left them. Yet the residual pain that lives in the eyes and the gait of two men who endured the camps is testimony enough to how unlucky so many other were, and that contrast is what distinguishes this film—like all classic fairy tales, it is part innocence and abyss.
- Henry Cabot Beck,Film.com
A wonderful new movie by directors Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell, one of the most remarkable portrayals of human decency I’ve ever seen.
- Mike Potemra, National Review
Extraordinary story about a group of French educators and townspeople who saved nearly 400 Jewish children from the Nazi concentration camps. Narrated by producer-director Lisa Gossels, whose father and uncle were among the "children of Chabannes," the documentary celebrates individual acts of courage.
- Maria Garcia, Film Journal International
This is an extraordinary film that should be seen by everyone: Jews, Christians and all others. Regrettably, it will probably not be seen by many people, as the memory of the Holocaust sinks into oblivion. The lack of public interest in another recent documentary which depicted what happened to Jews in Hungary, won international acclaim and prizes, was produced by Steven Spielberg and was seen by very few people in New York City. Shameful! Don't miss this one.
- Ed Koch, Our Town NYC
Chabannes is a celebratory film, one that will leave you inspired but unexpectedly smiling. Credit four Chabannes teachers, aged 86 to 90 in 1996 when they were interviewed; each is dedicated, loving, witty, brave, and blithely eccentric.
- Goldie Charles, Jewish Week
Chabannes turns out to be an extraordinary find for so many reasons, not least is that its story has never been told. Hats off to Gossels and Wetherell for listening, for seeing the seeds of an epic which, when painstakingly researched and pulled together, trumpets the unsung and helps bring lives together.
- Art Jones, Shout
The Children of Chabannes uncovers a fascinating and obscure story from the Holocaust.
- Hannah Brown, New York Post
The Children of Chabannes among other things, restores the belief that the romance of a France still committed to its revolutionary ideals does in fact exist.
- Amy Taubin, The Village Voice
In their moving documentary The Children of Chabannes, filmmakers Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell bring us the story of a school director in Vichy, France who defied directives from the Nazi-sympathizing leadership, and in doing so saved more than 400 Jewish refugee children from almost certain death. Many thanks must be given to Ms. Gossels and Mr. Wetherell for bringing this previously untold story to light, and for reminding us of the power of the individual.
- Gentry Menzel, New England Film.com
For more information on this film contact Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell.