The Children of Chabannes

Gossels has constructed a simple, quiet telling of a profound story. Little kids are whisked into the countryside in the middle of a dangerous war, where no one speaks their language or practices their religion, where their parents can't visit, and probably won't see them again. But in this little village some remarkable people give them love, shelter, food and education, and save their lives. Instead of being exterminated by Hitler's monstrous machine of hate, they are nurtured like little seeds until they can one day live free again, once they have escaped or outlasted the war.

One incident stands out and illustrates the story: At one point, a group of twelve or so boys is taken away from Chabannes and efforts are made to get them back. Most of them survive, but four are murdered in camps. Amongst the magnitude of millions losing their lives, this town grieves for four boys. "It was four boys too many," they say. When that statement was made during the film, thunderbolts went off in my head.

This idea, multiplied thousands of times throughout Europe, was the reason so many were saved while others perished. It is why good shall always triumph over evil: He who saves a single life has saved the world entire.

And it is why, in our efforts to never repeat this tragedy, we also have a plan in case it does: resolve to do whatever we can, even a little, to save one or two lives.