Netflix’s ‘Transatlantic’ Episode 1 shows the plight of the Jews in Vichy France during WWII

In the episode, we see the extremes that Jews would go to, just to avoid being seen and caught by government officials

BY ANA WALIA

PUBLISHED APR 7, 2023

Cory Michael Smith leads the cast of 'Transatlantic' (Netflix)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The eagerly anticipated World War II drama series 'Transatlantic,' based on Julie Orringer's novel 'The Flight Portfolio,' was released by Netflix just a few hours ago. The TV series is based on an inspiring and true story of a heroic rescue team led by American journalist Varian Fry, who, along with his supporters and the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC), assisted thousands of refugees to flee Nazi-occupied France.

Anna Winger and Daniel Hendler co-created the show, and Stéphanie Chuat, Véronique Reymond, and Mia Meyer directed the period drama. Anna Winger is co-producing 'Transatlantic' with Camille McCurry, and the cast includes Gillian Jacobs, Cory Michael Smith, Niels Bormann, Ralph Amoussou, Lucas Englander, Moritz Bleibtreu, Amit Rahav, and others.

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Jews made dangerous choices to avoid detainment

The series begins in the southern port city of Marseille, France, in 1940, with a group of Jews fleeing from the Nazis to save their lives. They look towards the wide open ocean in front of them. The sight of the ocean, and the cold water lashing their bodies as they dive in, brings joy to their faces. The scene demonstrates that when a person is trying to escape authorities who want them dead, something as simple as the sight of an ocean and the possibility of freedom can raise spirits in an instant.

Later in the episode, we see the extremes that Jews would go to, just to avoid being seen and caught by government officials because what would happen to them after getting caught is something nobody knew at the time. The show explores how the government had little to no compassion for people, particularly people (here, Albert Hirschman, played by Lucas Englander) who had served in the military for the country, solely because he was a Jew. Jewish people believe that God will ultimately judge people based on their choices. But in the meantime, they had to rely upon whatever means they could find to leave the country without papers — even if that meant climbing mountains, stealthily crossing borders or hiding in cargo ships.

As the story progresses, it is expected that the struggles of oppression and collective liberation will linger with the audience's mind. It reminds us in 2023 just how bad it was back then for the Jews fleeing their Nazi persecutors. However, it should be noted that some aspects of the show have been glamorized and exaggerated for the benefit of the audience, but it does make one think about the conditions of Jews at the time who were willing to die while escaping but not at the hands of the oppresive government.

‘Transatlantic’ is streaming now on Netflix