From the film: Saide Arifova with Itzhak, a Jewish orphan she is hiding, and Mustafa, a Tatar boy.
From the film "Her Heart"
Oct
Ukrainian Film about Muslim Crimean Tatar Woman Who Saved Jewish Children During WWII Screening in Ottawa, Toronto
Written by Staff WriterA film about a Muslim Crimean Tatar teacher who saved over 80 Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of Crimea in WWII. Screenings of the film are being organized in Ottawa and Toronto this week.
"Her Heart", also known as "87 Children" and "A Prayer of Strangers", is a Ukrainian historical drama about the true story of a Muslim Crimean Tatar teacher, Saide Arifova, who managed to save dozens of Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of Crimea in World War II. Risking her own life, Saide Arifova sheltered them in a Crimean foster home and taught them Islamic and Tatar traditions so they could pass as Crimean Tatars.
She would then have to save the children again in 1944, when the Crimean Tatars faced persecution and deportation from the Crimea to Central Asia.
If you are in Ottawa or Toronto, you can view a screening of the film and attend a discussion with the film's director, Ahtem Seitablaev, himself a Crimean Tatar.
Ottawa: Tuesday, October 30, Screening organized by the Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars and the Canada-Crimea Cultural Committee in cooperation with Ukrainian Canadian Film Festival. Registration Required. Click here for details
Toronto: Friday, November 2, Screening organized by MPP Kinga Surma and Canada Crimea Cultural Committee & Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars. Registration required by Oct. 31. Click here for details.
This article was produced exclusively for Muslim Link and should not be copied without prior permission from the site. For permission, please write to info@muslimlink.ca.
