He came out of the darkness… to bring her into the light…Based on a true story, THE OPTIMIST follows Holocaust survivor Herbert Heller and the unlikely friendship that transforms two lives.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Trafalgar Releasing.
The Optimist is a film that is based on a true story of survival and connection. It is more than a film— it is a journey from darkness to hope. The film is deeply rooted in two causes that reflect its heart: KAVOD, which supports Holocaust survivors living in poverty, and Bring Change to Mind, a national nonprofit empowering youth to end the stigma around mental health. Contributions supporting these organizations help extend the film’s impact beyond the screen.
About The Optimist
Based on a true story, THE OPTIMIST follows Holocaust survivor Herbert Heller and the unlikely friendship that transforms two lives. At 15, Herbert escaped the Auschwitz-Birkenau death march, carrying the weight of silence for six decades. When he finally breaks that silence, he forms a life-saving bond with Abby, a troubled teenager confronting her own pain. Together, they discover hope, healing, and the transformative power of being truly seen.
Directed by Finn Taylor and produced by Jeanine Thomas, THE OPTIMIST stars Stephen Lang and Elsie Fisher in an intimate, intergenerational story about trauma, memory, and healing. Lang delivers a career-defining performance opposite Fisher in a story developed over more than a decade by Thomas, who first met Heller before his passing in 2021. The film honors Heller’s legacy as an educator and survivor who shared his testimony with thousands of students nationwide.
The ensemble cast includes Luke David Blumm, Leah Pipes, Ben Geurens, Ursula Parker, Slavko Sobin, Stella Stocker, Oskar Hes, and Robin Weigert. Produced by Jeanine Thomas and Noah Lang, with executive producer Todd Slater, the film features cinematography by Antonio Riestra and Alexander Surkala and editing by Kaufmanova Olina and Rick LeCompte.
The film will be released nationwide on March 11, 2026, through Trafalgar Releasing. Buy your tickets here
Watch The Official Movie Trailer
About Herbert Heller
Herbert Heller was born in April 1929 in Teplice-Šanov, Czechoslovakia. He was the younger son of engineer Karel Heller and his wife, Melanie (née Porges). At age 12, he and his family were deported by the Gestapo to the Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto, and later to Auschwitz-Birkenau. During the forced Nazi death march, he made a miraculous escape by himself at age 15.
Emigrating to the US the following year, Herbert settled in San Francisco, worked at Macy’s while attending night school, and joined the U.S. Army Reserves, becoming a citizen in 1952. He married Annette (née Zion) in 1956, and together they raised three daughters.
In 1958, Herbert opened a children’s clothing store in San Rafael, which he operated for nearly 50 years. Known for his kindness and perseverance, he became a beloved figure in his community.
After six decades of silence, Herbert began sharing his Holocaust story in 2004, speaking to thousands of students and inspiring countless young people with his message of courage, hope, and remembrance. In 2020, Herbert was honored with the Jefferson Award, which recognizes ordinary individuals who perform extraordinary acts without seeking recognition—a fitting tribute to his quiet but profound impact.
Herbert passed shortly after in 2021, leaving a lasting legacy of resilience and compassion, as well as ten grandchildren.
Learn More About The Optimist
~ The Optimist Film Website
~ The Optimist Film Facebook Page
~ The Optimist Film on TikTok
~ The Optimist Film Instagram Page
~ The Optimist Film Twitter Page
~ Buy Tickets For The Optimist Film
My Review of The Optimist
I enjoyed watching The Optimist Film and learning more about Herbert Heller. This was a tough movie to watch, as it showed the reality of what the Jewish people endured during the Holocaust. As I watched the film. I began to understand why Herbert did not share his past with his family. Learning that he kept quiet for 6 decades to save his family from the pain and trauma must have been hard for him.
While sparing his family from the pain of what he went through may have kept the trauma away from his family, it was not doing Herbert any good. When Herbert learn that he was dying, he realized that he had to tell his family about his time in the Holocaust camp. He chose to tell his story on a video.
His sessions of making the video helped Herbert to finally heal from the past. This also helped Herbert get better, and he lived for many more years.
This is a film that everyone needs to watch. This film teaches that healing can come when you choose not to let the past have control over you. This was a time in history that can not be forgotten.
Festival favorite - #TheOptimistMovie - starring Stephen Lang & Elsie Fisher - opens March 11 - Buy Tickets
#BasedOnATrueStory #HolocaustRemembrance #MentalHealthAwareness #TheOptimistMovieRWM
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