A new animated documentary will explore the life of Fredy Hirsch, a German Jewish athlete, educator, and resistance figure who led educational and cultural programming for children in Prague’s Jewish community and at in Nazi camps in Terezín and Auschwitz.
Under the working title The Fredy Hirsch Story, the film will be directed by British artist Tom Brown (Christopher at Sea) and produced by Emilie Georges and Naima Abed of Paradise City, Peter Spears (Oscar-winner for Nomadland), and Maor Azran (Buried).
The project marks the first animated production for Paradise City, the London- and Paris-based company known for Luca Guagadnino‘s Oscar-nominated Call Me by Your Name and Drift.
The documentary draws on original research by New York Times editor Jody Becker, who first uncovered Hirsch’s story in the early 1990s while working in Prague. It will also incorporate historic audio interviews with Holocaust survivors and input from Hirsch’s niece, Rachel Masel.
Fredy Hirsch, born in 1916 in Aachen, Germany, moved to Prague in 1935 after facing persecution under the Nazi regime. In Prague, he became a central figure in the Jewish youth movement, organizing sports activities, cultural events, and educational programs at venues like the Hagibor (Hebrew for ‘Hero’) field in Strašnice.
Hirsch believed that maintaining hygiene, physical fitness, and cultural life was essential for the survival of children living under Nazi oppression. Deported to the Terezín ghetto in December 1941, he became known for creating a safe and nurturing environment for children, blending structure, care, and hope in a place marked by fear.
Later, in Auschwitz, he oversaw a children’s block in the so-called “family camp” and continued to organize activities, even under the constant threat of death. His courage and leadership earned him the respect of fellow prisoners—and even some Nazi officers—despite his identity as a Jewish, openly gay man.
Hirsch’s death in March 1944, just before a planned uprising in Auschwitz, remains shrouded in mystery. Some survivors believe he took his own life with barbiturates, while others question this version of events.
Director Brown says animation offers a way to bring Hirsch’s story to life in a unique, poetic way.
“Fredy understood the importance of more than just basic necessities for the children under his care; he believed in surrounding them with poetry,” he says. “It’s an extraordinary privilege to bring Fredy’s story to life.”
Producers Georges and Abed added: “We have been deeply moved by discovering this story, unknown to us. Falling in love with Tom CJ Brown’s work, we know he possesses the ability to convey the sophisticated language and subtle poetry necessary to translate this profoundly human tale onto the screen.”
Lead photo: Fredy Hirsch at the Hagibor sports grounds in Prague, c. 1941-42 courtesy Jewish Museum Prague
