First Look: “Rescue in the Philippines” Screening at Israeli Film Festival
(August 2012) This Untold Saga Involving Presidents, Cigars, and Poker, Tells a Gripping and Inspirational True Story of moral courage
In pre-war Manila, a mix of unlikely cultures and characters reminiscent of “Casablanca” gathered to save lives. The Players: Five cigar makers from Cincinnati. The president of the Philippines. A future president of the United States. A U.S. High Commissioner. They all sat down to a series of poker games where the stakes were life or death for an unimaginable number of men, women and children, who were guilty of only one thing—being Jewish.
This is the exotic setting in the new documentary “Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust” slated to air in its entirety on American Public Television in April 2013. It tells the little known account of how five American brothers used their political friendships in the Philippines to rescue as many Jewish refugees as possible, comparable to Oskar Schindler’s feat in Germany.
A first look at this forgotten story of how the Frieder brothers—Philip, Alex, Morris, Henry, and Herbert—Manuel Quezon, then-president of the Philippines, Paul McNutt, then – U.S. High Commissioner of the Philippines, and future President Dwight D. Eisenhower banded together, will take place at the “Magic of the Far East Film Festival” on August 24th.
“Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust,” will premiere in its entirety on American Public Television in April 2013. You can view the trailer and first look now on the You Tube link below.
Click here to see the first look
Here is what people are saying about “Rescue in the Philippines”:
“It’s one thing to sit around a card table and talk about a worrisome situation—even a dire situation. It’s quite another to actually take some action, and I think that’s why this is a story for all time.”
–Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower
“’Rescue in the Philippines’ will recount the relatively unknown story of how a small, eclectic and influential group of businessmen, politicians, and military leaders living in the Philippines took action during one of history’s darkest eras to provide sanctuary to Jews being prosecuted in Europe by the Nazi regime…There is a large and enthusiastic audience for historical documentaries and we expect that this tale of integrity will appeal to viewers.”
–Christopher Funkhouser, Vice President, American Public Television
“I think for my grandfather, it was perhaps that simple. You have a country. You have a little authority. You have an opportunity. omeone has asked for refuge—which is the most basic humanitarian appeal anyone can make. You answer it.”
–Manuel Quezon III, grandson of the late President Manuel Quezon
For more information about the film please contact 3 Roads Communications:
3 Roads Communications
Contact: Amanda Newcomb
301.662.4121
amanda.newcomb@3roads.com
Magic of the Far East Festival, In Association with Focal Magazine
+03-6399977
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