The real Jewish history behind Netflix's 'Transatlantic' and the WWII rescue mission that inspired..

[Behind the Aegis]

The real Jewish history behind Netflix’s ‘Transatlantic’ and the WWII rescue mission that inspired it

While the United States swung its door shut to most refugees during World War II, a young American in France saved thousands, including some of the 20th century’s defining artists and thinkers — such as Marc Chagall and Hannah Arendt — from the Nazis.

The rescue mission of Varian Fry, which went largely unrecognized during his life, is the subject of Netflix’s new drama “Transatlantic,” launching Friday from “Unorthodox” creator Anna Winger.

Starring Cory Michael Smith as Fry, the seven-episode “Transatlantic” aims to recreate his operation in Marseille after the Nazis defeated France and before the United States entered the war. Winger has injected several imagined romances, war efforts and characters into the fictionalized series, including one posed as Fry’s lover, named Thomas Lovegrove (played by Israeli Amit Rahav). Although Fry’s son has said that he was a “closeted homosexual,” no such person is known to have existed.

Winger believes these inventions will invite Netflix viewers to learn more about the true story.

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My husband just finished this limited series tonight. It was very good. In the "Making of..." is was described as a "screwball melodrama", which was a good description. The last episode, however, was heartbreaking. Throughout the series, they do NOT shy away from a POSTIVE portrayal of gay love. It is worth a binge.