From serving in the 1973 Yom Kippur War to writing films such as Wyatt Earp and Passenger 57, as well as penning theatre productions of Terms of Endearment and Rain Man.

His latest film, Irena's Vow, which is released in cinemas today, tells the remarkable story of Irena Gut Opdyke (played by Sophie N lisse), a 19-year-old woman whose extraordinary courage during the Nazi occupation of Poland saved the lives of 12 Jewish workers.

Employed as a housekeeper in the home of respected Nazi officer Eduard R gemer (Dougray Scott), she seized a moment of opportunity to shelter those who were destined for death.

Yitzhak Shamir, the former Israeli prime minister who came from Poland, once said that Poles take in antisemitism with their mother's milk, Dan told me.

But Irena was the exact opposite. She and her family were just incredibly decent and kind.

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