The Optimist

Herbert Heller keeps his experience as a teenage boy surviving in Auschwitz hidden from his family. Until he meets Abby, a young teenager whose own brush with pain and death inspires him to open up as well, leading the two of them to exchange their stories as a meaningful and healing friendship is born.

Directed by Finn Taylor

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Images

Cast

Stephen Lang

Herbert Heller

Elsie Fisher

Abbey

Luke David Blumm

Young Herbert Heller

Robin Weigert

Ruth

Leah Pipes

Jane

Ben Geurens

Gabe

Ursula Parker

Sabrina

Slavko Sobin

Herbert's Father

Stella Stocker

Herbert's Mother

Oskar Hes

Hein Heller

Stephanie Heiner

Linda

Josh Schell

Cop

Jake Lucas

Centurion (uncredited)

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