Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man

A two-parts TV drama that tells the story of Italian Righteous Gentile Giorgio Perlasca who was, since 1944, an emissary for Spain and operated under the protection of the Spanish in the city. On November 1944, with the approach of the front, he was instructed by his government to leave Budapest, but under the pretense of authorization from the Spanish Government, Perlasca conducted negotiations with the fascist and pro-Nazi “Arrow-Cross” Government. He promised favors from the Spanish Government in exchange for honoring the rights of Spaniards in Hungary, and devised protection for thousands of persecuted Jews. Perlasca also protected them against the violence of the “Arrow-Cross”. About 5,000 Jews survived as a result of Perlasca’s deeds. In 1988 he was awarded the title of “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad-Vashem, and in 1989 the Hungarian Government and the Jewish Community in Italy also decorated him.