DOCUMENTARY FILM
CAST
Avraham Perlmutter, Ph.D.
Avraham was 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” was published in English and in Dutch. For many years, he shared his life story by speaking at local museums, schools, and other venues. His story continues to inspire audiences with its universal lessons on the importance of possessing determination and resilience, helping others, having tolerance, compassion, and empathy for people of all faiths and backgrounds, and obtaining a good education.
Mientje Beijers
Mientje, along with her parents, Peter and Getrude 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, 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.