DOCUMENTARY
This inspirational award-winning documentary follows Avraham as he outwits the Nazis and overcomes every obstacle standing in his way. But more than just a remarkable story of survival, his tale is a testament to human kindness, even in the darkest of hours, and to the achievements made possible through relentless perseverance.
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CAST
Avraham Perlmutter, Ph.D.
Avraham is an award-winning scientist, businessman, author and speaker. A Holocaust survivor, he emerged with a positive perspective on life—choosing to focus on the people who helped him rather than those set on defeating him. His best-selling autobiography, “Determined: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Avraham Perlmutter” has been published in English and in Dutch. He continues to share his life story by speaking at local museums, schools, and other venues. Avraham and his wife, Ruth, have been married for over 60 years and have four children and five grandchildren.
Mientje Beijers
Mientje, along with her parents, Peter and Gertrude Beijers, helped to hide Avraham in their house in the Netherlands for over a year during the Holocaust. Peter and Gertrude were later granted "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Authority). More information about the couple can be found at the Yad Vashem site here.
Jan Smit
Jan was a member of the underground resistance network that was formed by Joop Westerweel and that became known as the "Westerweel Group." As part of his efforts, he helped to secure hiding places for numerous Jews, including Avraham. Jan was later granted "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem. More information about Jan can be found on the Yad Vashem site here.
Henk Beijers
Henk is the grandson of Peter and Gertrude Beijers.
Emma Beijers
Emma is the great-granddaughter of Peter and Gertrude Beijers.
CREW
Keren Perlmutter, Ph.D.
Producer/Director/Writer/Editor
Keren, who is Avraham's daughter, is an award-winning scientist, publisher, filmmaker, and public speaker. She obtained her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA and her M.S. in Electrical Engineering, M.S. in Statistics, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, all from Stanford University. She was chief scientist and head of an international research and development division at AOL. She also developed technology for Warner Bros. Studios, including the revolutionary “Ultra- Resolution” film restoration process. Keren is a published author of a number of technical papers and has won numerous academic awards. She has also been granted 39 patents for her inventions. More recently, she published her father’s bestselling autobiography in English and in Dutch. She continues to share her father’s life story by speaking at museums, schools, and other venues.
Steven Chesne
Composer
Steve has been creating music for the media and the concert hall for over 35 years. He has composed the scores for over 300 episodes of prime-time, network shows including: "Batman: The Animated Series," "Family Man," "Family Matters," "Getting By, "Girls Across the Lake," "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," "The Hogan Family," "Kirk," "Life Happens," "Perfect Strangers," "Step by Step," "Two of a Kind," and "Valerie." The orchestral score for "Batman: The Animated Series" was nominated for an award by the International Film Music Critics Association. He has also scored 17 theatrical art-house films, including: LA Times Critic's Pick "Zen Noir," "Debating Robert Lee," "The Trip," and "No Turning Back," leading the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) to hold a public reception at the Director's Guild of America to honor Steven's creative contribution to art-house cinema.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
My father, Avraham Perlmutter, has always been an inspiration to me. Several years ago, after he began writing about his life, I edited and published his document. This resulting collaboration became the best-selling autobiography, “Determined: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Avraham Perlmutter.” We subsequently published his book in Dutch, in collaboration with the Beijers family—whose grandparents and great-grandparents helped to hide my father for over a year in Southeastern Netherlands. My father and I have also given talks to thousands of people at schools, museums, and other venues in order to share his inspirational life story. We have been so moved to see how audiences have responded to his story and messages—about the importance of helping others in need, being determined to overcome obstacles to pursue one’s dreams, and obtaining an education. These messages are universal and important now more than ever, especially with Anti-Semitism and religious-motivated conflicts on the rise and with the dark days of 1940s Europe slipping further from people’s consciousness. We hope this documentary will enable his message to inspire a wider audience and motivate them to make a positive difference both in their own lives and in the world at large.