How Netflix Blew the Real Story of Varian Fry
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- "Transatlantic", a Netflix series based on the story of Varian Fry, the so-called "American Schindler" and the Emergency Rescue Committee during the Second World War, has been criticized for glamorizing the setting and altering the role of individual actors in the ERC.
The series outlines the story of around 2,000 people who fled Marseille to escape Nazi persecution with the help of the ERC. But some historians and descendants have accused the show of neglecting the broader historical context, including the international refugee conference of Évian in 1938. Critics have also pointed out that the portrayal of Marseille in the series is far from accurate and overly dramatized. On this episode of Arts Unveiled we delve into the historical background of the events portrayed in the "Transatlantic" series through interviews with descendants, historians, and experts. Among those featured are Anya Schiffrin, Pierre Sauvage, James D. Fry, Anne Klein, and Anna Winger, who offer their perspectives on the story and its portrayal in the series.
Special thanks to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum @holocaustmuseum and Kickfilm.
#dwhistoryandculture
#transatlantic #netflix #wwii #holocaust
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00:00 Intro
00:42 What is the series about?
02:25 The story of Varian Fry and WWII
05:29 Marseille - The city of escape
06:37 Who were the refugees?
08:34 Who were the helpers?
11:11 What happened to Varian Fry?
13:54 Differences between reality and the series
Varian Fry was a brilliant and daring man who deserved much more respect and praise for what he accomplished. He was my Latin teacher in high school. I stumbled upon his book in the library and was amazed that no one had told us of his daring work. I am still in awe of him to this day.
Wow! You knew Varian personally
@@SagesseNoir Yes, I did and I admire him so much.
@@mimby1148 I just got a copy of his book SURRENDER ON DEMAND
Thanks for giving this enlightening review. I agree with the foundation's head, there's so much Netflix had to work with, yet they had to add a bunch of fake drama to Varian's story.
I'm ok with historical fiction, but if you're doing someone's story stay true to it.
The show was inspired by Julie Orringer's novel, The Flight Portfolio which is a fictionalized account of the life of Varian Fry
Thanks Sabine, for setting the tone and story straight on a man like Varian Fry. I had a lump in my throat at the final passage from his writings. Good to have it underscored that he saved 2000 people against such official resistance, and it sounds like the beginning of a long reckoning. I hadn't really registered the series yet, but will give it a look. Thanks for this compelling piece! 🙏
Thank you, Karin! ❤
Don't bother with the series, it isn't worth it. Much better telling of the story in "Varian's War" , a film from 2001 that I saw years ago and finally found again on YT. Possibily not as glitzy or "fun" as described in this series but much better, and reflected the very real danger Fry courted.
I really enjoyed the Netflix series Transatlantic but I understand how the situation was romanticized to make the show entertaining. I don't think Mr. Fry's heroism was undermined. I think in the series it was quite clear that what he accomplished was gargantuan in the face of opposition that he faced.
Thanks, Helen, for sharing your thoughts here with us. All the best.
I also enjoyed the series but anything lacked “historical” on Netflix these days I approach with caution and always investigate after watching.
All they had to do was to tell the real story which would have made it worth it. Seeking to "romanticize to make it entertaining" cheapened it, made it seem like a lark. So disppointing.
I am someone who didn’t even know who Varian Fry was . I just saw Transatlantic straightaway . Not only did I love the portrayal of Varian Fry ( as a rescuer : not going into his love angle with the fictional Thomas ) , I was pretty moved by a lot of scenes in the series . The show has its flaws like any other , but in no way does it undermine the heroism of Varian . I felt such a sense of relief when he finally crossed the Barrier with the Chagalls . If nothing else , Transatlantic has made uninformed people like me go and hunt for information on this under-celebrated hero and the one who aided him , like Mary Jane .
Hadn’t heard of this show, now it’s on my watch list. Thanks DW. And I appreciate you showing the real story.
to be fair it is based on a book and at least raises the profile of Varian fry and others and also the fact there was a major resistance movement in marseille which you would think would lead to people looking in to it and researching the facts, it is not a documentary or meant to be !!
No, but it doesn't really give much of an idea of the story, either. Didn't need the distractions and could have told a really exciting story--the book ... I didn't get far into it. I did know more than a little about the work of the ERC and Varian Fry to begin with so perhaps I am biased but I thought this series did a poor job.
By the way, are you guys familiar with the movie "Varian's War"? Is it closer to depicting what actually happened than is "Transatlantic"? It appeared in the cable SHOWTIME back in 2001
Thank You for this!
Hey, I just got a hold of Varian Fry's book SURRENDER ON DEMAND from our university library.
I adored Transatlantic and was introducing to Varian Fry’s work. I don’t think his portrayal in the fictionalized story undermined his heroism and dedication at all. The Netflix series brought me to his work and true story for that I am grateful. He did great work and I really value the stories of queer people being told.
But that wasn't the purpose of what Fry did! To turn it into that takes away from the real heroism of what he did, not who he was. Makes saving those 2,000 people - more, if you consider descendants-- a "distraction", when they were why he was there.
will take a look on this series. I knew mr Fry history by the movie "Varian's war" of 2001 with William Hurt!
Varian was brilliant and caring...he came to my brothers funeral (Varian is my cousin) and I remember thinking he was so much like my Dad.
Wow! You're related to Varian.
What a great man, only if more people could be like him.
Thanks Dao, so true.
There seem to have been quite a lot of people who quietly did what they could. I have read about quite a few over the years. Often surprising like a group of Catholic nuns who managed to hide children.
Before this limited series I didn't know the story of Varian Fry and the rescue committee now I know, I loved it and if I'm honest I also followed Transatlantic to see the Gotham Riddler again:Cory Michael Smith😊💚 a great actor who I've been a fan of since I saw him on Breakfast and Tiffany
There are better, and truer ways of learning about what Varian Fry and his ERC colleagues achieved. This isn't one of them.
Proof that you don’t need to use a gun to be a hero
I admit that only recently have I even heard of Varian Fry. However, I never saw the Netflix series. I first saw the Showtime movie called "Varian's War" which aired maybe 15--20 years ago. Thanks for this video which tries to set the record straight. Presently, I am now not sure I want to see "Transatlantic". I want to know more about Varian Fry and the work of the Emergency Rescue Committee
Read his book „surrender on demand“ ist really good
@@wasauchimmer723 OK
Has anyone here seen the video VARIAN'S WAR? If so, do you think it a better account of Varian and his mission?
I wish Varian Fry had saved Walter Benjamin, a superb German Jewish philosopher and man of letters who committed suicide to escape the Nazis. But he did save the philosopher Hannah Arendt, some of whose works I have read.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and our community.
Yes he certainly deserved a lot of credit. It's also sad that Fry and others, were unable to save another great German Jewish logician and philosopher, Kurt Grelling and his wife Greta in time. Sadly, they were sent to Auschwitz and immediately murdered.
Mr. Benjamin was stopped at the Spanish border; guards had been instructed would not allow a stateless person" to pass. There would have been little chance at that point for Fry to save him. Varian Fry did save at least 2,000 people; among them Marc Chagall, Franz Werfel, Heinrich Mann, Alma Mahler (Werfel, she was then).
I wish Walter Benjamin had been one of those who Varian Fry helped to escape. He was a great writer
I really wanted to share this. But I avoid sharing things that refer to the US as “America”. It feels like complying with propaganda, and perpetuating the country’s culture of isolationism and cultural appropriation.
From various comments Ive read about various netflix productions Im rather glad I a) rarely watch tv and b) dont subscribe to Netflix or indeed any non terrestrial channels.
I stopped watching most tv years ago in the hey day of big brother and offshoots. There is plenty of good stuff on here.👍
You won't miss anything if you skip this. If you want to watch a film that tells more of what Varian Fry did, watch "Varian's War" from 2001--now you can find it on YT.
The american movie 'VARIAN'S WAR' with William Hurt as Varian Fry is more realistic than this series of Netflix ! Btw : Fry was NOT gay !!!
Transatlantic was awful. The book it was based on was a disappointment, focusing more on Fry's sex life than the real story. Twenty plus years ago there was another film, "Varian's War", with William Hurt--only two hours but a far better telling of the story as well. so when the publicists of this say the story is "only now being filmed" that is not true. Give "Transatlantic a miss. Watch "Varian's War. Read "Villa Air Bel by Rosemary Sullivan for the real story. Brave people.