Helen Yermus stands in the remnants of her childhood home in Poland, searching for answers about her brother's fate during the Holocaust. Alongside fellow survivors Maxwell Smart and Rose Lipszyc, she revisits significant locations tied to their pasts. Smart reflects on a baby he saved in a forest in 1943, while Lipszyc honors her parents by visiting the sites of their final days. Directed by Rebecca Snow, Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust features these personal narratives intertwined with insights from historians and genealogists. The film premiered on November 11, 2019, on History.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet Holocaust survivors Helen Yermus and Rose Lipsyzc.
See Maxwell Smart's childhood experiences in Poland.
Find out about the film's award-winning visual research.

Did You Know

The film aired on History on November 11, 2019.
Maxwell Smart published a memoir titled The Boy in the Woods in 2018.
The documentary received six Canadian Screen Award nominations in 2021.
The film won the award for Best Visual Research at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Perfect For

Holocaust historyJewish Canadian storiesDocumentary filmmaking

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust?

Rebecca Snow directed Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust.

When did Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust premiere?

Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust premiered on November 11, 2019.

What award did Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust win at the Canadian Screen Awards?

It won the award for Best Visual Research at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021.

Awards & Festivals

Canadian Screen Awards

2021 • Nomination

Awards & Festivals

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