Resistance

Jesse Eisenberg brings to life the extraordinary true story of mime artist Marcel Marceau’s role in rescuing Jewish orphans from the Nazis.

Jesse Eisenberg stars in the true story of Jewish Boy Scouts joining the French Resistance to save over 10,000 orphans from the Nazis in World War Two. Eisenberg plays famous mime artist Marcel Marceau who, together with a group of activists, fights to rescue 123 Jewish orphans from ruthless Nazis led by SS Klaus Barbie, and take them safely across the Swiss border.

The fascinating wartime story of one of 20th Century’s most influential performers is seldom recounted and receives long overdue recognition in Jonathan Jakubowicz’s moodily photographed and robustly mounted biopic. Unlike most WWII dramas, the focus here is the suffering of children under the Nazis, and the story’s light and shade is aptly reflected in Eisenberg’s performance, a mix of open generosity and quiet resolve, while Clémence Poésy offers excellent support as Marceau’s tenacious resistance ally.