Harbour of Hope

In the spring of 1945, Irene, Ewa and Joe were among the nearly 30,000 survivors liberated from German concentration camps by the Red Cross and sent to the peaceful harbour town of Malmö, Sweden. Here they started life again. Shown in unique archival footage, 10-year-old Irene takes her first shaky steps toward freedom at the harbor. Newborn Ewa’s mother, who had veiled her eyes from the horrors of the camps, carries her infant, who was born in the Ravensbrück camp, from the boat. Joe arrives in Malmö as a lonely orphan, having lost his entire family. Together with Red Cross volunteer Stig Kinnhagen and Malmö resident Bo Fröberg, the survivors tell their amazing stories from the moment of liberation until today, when unsolved mysteries still affect their lives. Director Magnus Gertten dramatically depicts how the city of Malmö mobilized to take care of the survivors, ultimately helping to save thousands of lives. Their heartbreaking, yet life-affirming personal life journeys are documented in this emotionally powerful film about dealing with repressed wartime memories and the importance of a helping hand; of finding a “harbour of hope.”