Triumph of Hope

"Triumph of Hope" is a documentary exploring and celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. The first in a planned series of projects, it introduces viewers to three fascinating people who survived the Holocaust as hidden children. 

These three survivors — Arye Ephrath, Helga Morrow, and Regine Archer — share deeply personal and increasingly harrowing experiences in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. Guided by the stories shared by these survivors, viewers will go on a journey that puts both the very worst and the very best of the human spirit on display. 

The stories of Arye, Helga and Regine don’t end with the war. They go on to share how their lives developed after hiding, including coming to America in search of new opportunities for themselves and their growing families. Most importantly, they share how their experiences shaped them and their hope for the world's current and future generations. 

The film includes footage from a roundtable discussion held at Roanoke College with the three featured survivors and two Roanoke College students, along with a brief analysis by a nationally known psychiatrist. Don't miss this beautifully crafted, highly personal portrait of three people who found hope amidst the very worst of circumstances.

Admission is free and open to the public. A Q&A will follow the screening.

Of note, the film was initiated, produced, directed, filmed and edited exclusively by talent here in the Roanoke Valley, including two Roanoke College alums.  

"Triumph of Hope" is sponsored by the Roanoke Jewish Foundation; Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo of the Dorothea Leonhardt Fund; and the Sam and Marion Golden Helping Hand Foundation, in partnership with Roanoke College. The documentary is produced by Lori Strauss, event coordinator with the Roanoke Jewish Foundation, and Red Velocity Inc.

FEATURING:

• Helga Morrow (pictured left): Born on March 7, 1938, in Breda, Netherlands. Helga’s family was split apart and hidden by many families during the war. 
• Arye Ephrath (pictured center): Born in the middle of World War II on April 7, 1942, in Bardejov, Slovakia, a client state and ally of Nazi Germany. 
• Regine Archer (pictured right): Born on Dec. 5, 1924, in Krakow, Poland. Regine was 20 by the end of the war, offering a unique perspective on her experiences.