When you look at the pitiful state the world is currently in, during a period of uncertainly and very little hope on the horizon, it’s very easy to become disillusioned by it all.

So it’s good to look back at our history, and illustrate that during the darkest times, heroes can be made, as this remarkable film, based on a true story, shows.

When the hospital she worked in gets bombed in occupied Poland in 1939, nurse Irena Gut Opdyke (Sophie Nélisse) finds herself out of a job, but is soon assigned a new position by Major Eduard Rügemer (Dougray Scott), a high ranking Nazi officer, in his factory.

She’s then given more responsibility working in the kitchen and overseeing household duties, which includes overlooking a group of Jews tasked with tailoring duties.

Irena learns that the Nazis intend to round up all the Jews in the area, which isn’t good news for the group that work under her.

But when an opportunity to be the Major’s housekeeper at his new house arises, Irena comes up with an audacious idea that just may save the Jewish group.

Canadian director Louise Archambault’s film, written by Dan Gordon and based on his Broadway play of the same name, is a true story of pure bravery and heroism, that proves that there are people out there who are prepared to face evil, even at the cost of putting their own lives in jeopardy.

It’s a Canadian-Polish production, which makes it a little curious as despite being shot in Poland, it’s English-spoken, featuring a number of foreign actors speaking English. It’s understandable to a certain extent, as subtitled films don’t reach the same kind of audience as English-spoken films do, but it is a little distracting.

Thankfully the story is truly gripping, as Irena shows extraordinary courage in protecting her Jewish group, which makes you more forgiving over the language issue.

It’s also helped by a superb performance from Nélisse, whose micro expressions on her face are enough to express the horror and panic on her character’s face and heart.

It’s extremely well-crafted, with Archambault content to just let the incredible story do most of the heavy lifting, which is more than enough.

It not only proves that sometimes we have to look back into our past to give us hope, but also, thanks to the bravery of Opdyke, can restore our faith in mankind.