Irena’s Vow: The Remarkable Holocaust Story Now Finding a New Audience on Netflix

Some war films are remembered for their scale. Irena’s Vow stands out for the extraordinary true story at its center.

The Holocaust drama, directed by Louise Archambault and starring Sophie Nélisse, follows Irena Gut Opdyke, a young Polish woman who risked her life to shelter 12 Jewish people during the Second World War. The film has recently found a new audience on Netflix, prompting viewers to discover a story many say they had never encountered before.

Released theatrically in 2024 after premiering at TIFF in 2023, the film is based on Opdyke’s wartime experiences, which were also dramatized in Dan Gordon’s Broadway play of the same name and documented in her memoir, In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer.

Hiding 12 people in a Nazi officer’s home

At 19, Irena Gut is working for the Germans when she is promoted to housekeeper in the home of German officer Rugmer, played by Dougray Scott.

Her circumstances change when she learns that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated. Faced with the threat to people she knows, Irena decides to hide 12 Jewish workers.

The hiding place makes the decision even more dangerous: the basement of the German officer’s own house.

For the next two years, Irena relies on courage, intelligence and quick thinking to keep the group concealed while living under constant threat of discovery. Their survival unfolds amid Nazi parties, a blackmail scheme and the unexpected birth of a child.

The story is rooted in the real experiences of Irena Gut Opdyke, who was later recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for helping save Jewish lives during the Holocaust.

Viewers are discovering the story for the first time

The film’s arrival on Netflix has also sparked a wave of reactions from viewers surprised by how unfamiliar Irena’s story was to them.

Some have described Irena’s Vow as unlike other war films they had seen, while others said they finished the movie deeply affected by the realization that its central events were based on real people and circumstances.

That response reflects the unusual nature of the story itself. Irena was not a soldier or a high-ranking official. Her efforts centered on keeping a small group of people alive while hiding them directly beneath the roof of a Nazi officer.

The story had remained relatively little known for decades. Opdyke did not begin publicly sharing her wartime experiences until years after the Holocaust, eventually telling her story through her memoir and public appearances.

Sophie Nélisse leads the cast

Sophie Nélisse plays Irena, with Dougray Scott portraying Rugmer. The cast also includes Andrzej Seweryn.

Nélisse’s performance has been singled out by critics, while reviews have also emphasized the significance of bringing Opdyke’s story to a wider audience.

The film currently holds an 86% Tomatometer score from 36 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside an 83% audience score from more than 50 ratings.

Critics have offered differing assessments of the film’s approach, but several have acknowledged the strength of the underlying story and Nélisse’s performance. The Guardian, for example, praised the extraordinary nature of Opdyke’s real-life actions while arguing that the film sometimes presents the Holocaust too gently.

A true story that deserves to be remembered

At just over two hours, Irena’s Vow transforms an extraordinary chapter of Holocaust history into a personal survival drama.

Its central premise is difficult to comprehend: 12 Jewish people were hidden inside the home of a German officer, while a young woman risked discovery to keep them alive.

That real-life history is ultimately what gives the film its emotional weight. For viewers encountering Irena Gut Opdyke’s story for the first time, Irena’s Vow offers a reminder that some of the most remarkable stories of the Second World War are not necessarily the ones that became household names.

Irena’s Vow is currently available to stream on Netflix.