Varian Fry's heroism outlined in Netflix's 'Transatlantic' Episode 6
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The recently released period drama 'Transatlantic' by 'Unorthodox' creator Anna Winger is about the Marseilles-based Emergency Rescue Committee led by American Journalist Varian Fry and funded by Mary Jayne Gold, which assisted numerous European refugees, primarily Jewish artists, and intellectuals, in fleeing Nazi-occupied France.
Stéphanie Chuat, Véronique Reymond, and Mia Meyer, with Anna, also serving as producer alongside Camille McCurry, directed the limited series drama for Netflix co-created by Anna Winger and Daniel Hendler. The war drama is based on Julie Orringer's novel ‘The Flight Portfolio’.
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Varian’s race against time makes him a hero
In the sixth episode of the war drama, Varian Fry, who had been assigned by the US government to assist refugees in finding a safe passage to the US, was fired, and a new individual was appointed to carry on with the work. Varian, like a true hero, continues to work it out with his connections, including Captain DuBois and Vice Consul Hiram Bingham. This continues to demonstrate that sometimes, people appointed with an individual task feel duty-bound to complete it even when requested to back out, and this only brings out the true hero in them.
Varian was asked to leave Marseilles, and although he might have done so, he felt accountable to those who had placed their confidence in him. As a result, he prepared to find a solution in a very limited time. He did come up with one and was capable of successfully transporting 275 people as stowaways with paperwork on a cargo ship. Vice Consul Hiram Bingham assisted him in obtaining entry visas to the United States. Unlike Patterson, Bingham was keen on helping the cause, both in legal and illegal ways. Even though Vichy France was officially independent, the Nazi influence was palpable, making running the ERC more difficult. Albert was shaken by Paul's arrest because they both, along with others, decided to take matters into their hand and be a part of the resistance. Paul was arrested on the account that he planned to break into prison.
What does the episode demonstrate?
It's fair to say that the episode demonstrates that heroes aren't always forged behind the barrel of a gun. They often were ordinary civilians, who would use whatever privilege they were given to protect not only the people chased by the Third Reich, but as well as the heritage they wanted to wipe off the face of the Earth.
‘Transatlantic’ is currently streaming on Netflix.