ARISTIDES DE SOUSA MENDES

Vancouver Holocaust Education centre (http://vhec.org/

VANCOUVER RAOUL WALLENBERG DAY

Sunday, January 16, 2011 | 1:30 PM
Vancity Theatre | 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver


Désobéir
French with English subtitles

Aristides de Sousa Mendes was the Portuguese Consul who at great risk to himself saved the lives of 38,000 refugees, including 10,000 Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. He did so in defiance of his government and contravening the orders of the Salazar dictatorship. As a consequence, Sousa Mendes suffered severe reprisals from the Fascist Portuguese regime until the end off his life, when he died in poverty.

After the Second World War, the Portuguese dictator tried to claim credit for saving Jewish lives. Fortunately, the noble actions of Sousa Mendes were rightfully recognized after the Fascists were overthrown by the Carnation Revolution in 1974. The film Désobéir was instrumental in disclosing this history and in shedding light on the heroic life of Sousa Mendes.

ADMISSION BY DONATION | Reception to follow

Presented by Consulate of Sweden, Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre & Second Generation Group of Vancouver