The Windermere Children (2025) is a poignant British drama directed by Michael Samuels and written by Simon Block. The film depicts the true story of 300 Jewish child survivors of the Holocaust who were brought to the Calgarth Estate near Lake Windermere in England during the summer of 1945. These children, orphaned and traumatised, arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and the emotional scars of their experiences.
The narrative centres on the efforts of a dedicated team—including child psychologist Oscar Friedmann (played by Thomas Kretschmann), art therapist Marie Paneth (Romola Garai), philanthropist Leonard Montefiore (Tim McInnerny), and sports coach Jock Lawrence (Iain Glen)—to help the children heal. Over a four-month period, the children engage in activities such as learning English, playing football, and expressing their trauma through art, gradually rebuilding their lives and forming deep bonds with one another. Despite facing prejudice from some locals and receiving devastating news about their families from the Red Cross, the children find solace and a sense of family in each other.
The film has been praised for its emotional depth and historical significance. It won the Special Prize for the Film with the Greatest Educational Potential at the Moscow Jewish Film Festival. Critics have lauded its moving portrayal of resilience and the human capacity for connection in the face of unimaginable loss.
The Windermere Children is available for streaming on platforms like Stan and can also be purchased on
