NICKY’S FAMILY
Nicholas Winton was a seemingly ordinary British stockbroker who organized the extraordinary rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II. Winton, who is now 103 years old, never spoke about these events with anyone for more than 50 years. His risky act of heroic, selfless love would have probably been forgotten if his wife, half a century later, hadn’t found a suitcase in the attic full of documents.
Queen Elisabeth II knighted Winton and the U.S. House of Representatives recognized his remarkable deed. Winton’s story is so powerful it has stimulated thousands of children in many countries to do something good for those in our human family who are suffering. They have helped save lives of undernourished and sick children in Cambodia and Africa.
Recently, more than 120,000 children in the Czech Republic signed a petition to award Nicholas Winton the Nobel Prize for Peace. Dozens of Winton’s “children” have been found and today his “family” numbers about 6,000 people, many of whom have gone on to achieve great things themselves. It is incredible that all these people are alive due to the heroic deeds of one man – Sir Nicholas Winton.
Film producers Matej Minac and Patrik Pass set out to ensure these fascinating, little-known stories about the rescue mission are not lost to time. They wanted also to show the unique phenomenon that has emerged from Winton’s story, how his courageous acts many years ago continues to influence people from all over the world and motivate them to do good.
Their superb and moving film amply demonstrates that members of Nicky’s Family are not only the thousands of people who owe their lives to Sir Nicholas Winton, but all those who want to do something positive for our world.
This dramatic story of the Czech Kindertransport is told using historical images as well as recreations. It’s a terrific movie. Sometimes movies are worth seeing because it is good to be reminded of the best of human nature. NICKY’S FAMILY is now showing at Palm Desert’s Cinemas Palme d’Or.
NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER
LAY THE FAVORITE
From director Stephen Frears comes the story of Dink (Bruce Willis), a professional odds-maker, who teams up with Beth (Rebecca Hall), a former stripper with a knack for numbers who promises to help Dink score big — but instead turns his world upside down. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Joshua Jackson join the cast of misfits who risk everything for their dubious dreams. This sexy comedy/drama is based on Beth Raymer’s best-selling memoir, “Lay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling,” and is in fact a vivid exposé of the world of gambling. Anchor Bay. Blu-ray.
RED DAWN
John Milius’s 1984 cult classic has been rebooted – or should I say retreaded – into a teen action film that is a goofy indictment of the federal government. So wildly illogical, that the source of the Washington state enemy invasion had to be digitally altered from the Chinese to the North Koreans. (Hey, we do business with China!) I recall one critic calling this film a “Tea Party wet dream.” When the good citizens of this bucolic suburban Washington town find themselves prisoners under enemy occupation, a group of high schoolers organize themselves under the name of their school mascot. Calling themselves the Wolverines, they fight to “take back their freedom.” Routine action and okay performances from leads Chris Hemsworth and a slimmed down Josh Peck do not make this in any way a convincing story. A better one, truer to the dark logic of the subtext, would be “patriotic” teens defending a town against their own government’s takeover –after all citizen’s guns have been recalled. Isn’t that the big fear? 20th Century Fox. Blu-ray.
BREAKING DAWN 1 & 2
For TWILIGHT fans who just can’t get enough, there are eight minutes of new and extended scenes added back into BREAKING DAWN Part One by director Bill Condon, along with an optional audio commentary. Also now available is BREAKING DAWN Part Two. The books have been described as “crack for teen girls.” Now the hopelessly addicted can mainline BREAKING DAWN in it’s entirety at one sitting! Both DVD and Blu-ray feature a “Seven-Part Behind the Scenes Documentary” and more. Summit. Blu-ray.
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