It's a shame the way the film's narrative is undermined by long stretches of soulless re-enactments, by a well-meaning but energy-sapping final tribute, and by haphazard storytelling.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The New York Times by Anita Gates
An enthralling documentary.
Arizona Republic by Barbara VanDenburgh
The story is good enough to tell itself, and the filmmakers should have let it.
New York Daily News by Elizabeth Weitzman
Hokey reenactments of the war years do the film no favors, but it’s worth sticking them out to witness a humanity that never could be faked.
New York Post by Farran Smith Nehme
It’s a compelling story, and Minac has told it before, notably in 2002’s “The Power of Good: Nicholas Winton.” This new documentary seems aimed at a classroom audience.
Winton’s inspiring story deserves greater attention but this film isn’t the best representation of it.
Slant Magazine by Rob Humanick
This is a powerful chapter in our human history, but it's made melodramatic and dull through Matej Minac's indulgence of hokey reenactments and sound-augmented archival footage.
Los Angeles Times by Robert Abele
There's a great story at the heart of Matej Minac's documentary Nicky's Family, if only it were allowed to be told unvarnished.