CARLA THE RESCUER 🤩

We don’t often get to meet real, ordinary heroes in life. Most of the time, they don’t live up to expectations. This is not true for CARLA Peperzak, a 101-year-old Holocaust survivor, member of the Dutch Underground, Holocaust educator, and author of two books about her life. 

The Spokane Jewish Film Festival celebrated the West Coast Premiere of CARLA THE RESCUER. The city of Spokane loves her and even has a middle school named after her (The Carla Peperzk Middle School). She is a treasure trove of stories from a dark historical period and the guest speaker on opening night. Her reflective, passionate thoughts and words united over 200 people together. We marveled at her ingenuity, her daring courage, and her strength. CARLA ensured everyone knew that the way to ensure a better future is through respect for all humanity. There is no place for hatred in our troubled world. Everyone must be diligent and mindful. How we accept one another with all of our differences is the key. It was a phenomenal experience to witness iconic living history.  

CARLA THE RESCUER showcased an extraordinary woman who saved forty lives and created one hundred forged documents and IDs to help others escape the wrath of the Nazi Regime. She was friends with Margot and Anne Frank and, at one point, lived a block apart. To listen to CARLA’s story is a true gift. The film gave viewers an insight into what it was like growing up in such a nightmare, never knowing who would survive daily. 

CARLA THE RESCUER was brilliant storytelling, but it could have utilized a tad more editing, especially knowing when to conclude. There was some repetition at the end, but it did not take away from an evening those in attendance will never forget.