Netflix Series 'Transatlantic' Depicts Rescue of Artists from Holocaust

Netflix's new series 'Transatlantic', premiering on April 7, 2023, dramatizes the real-life rescue of artists and intellectuals from Nazi-occupied Europe. Set in Marseille in 1940, the seven-episode show is based on Julie Orringer's novel 'Flight Portfolio', directed by Paul Sonntag, and is a co-production between the US, UK, France, and Germany. The plot follows American journalist Varian Fry and heiress Mary Jayne Gold as they join the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) to save over two thousand European refugees, including artists Max Ernst, Marc Chagall, André Breton, and philosopher Hannah Arendt. The series adopts a glamorous tone, balancing darkness, humor, and beauty, according to Netflix. However, this approach has drawn criticism from Israel and some film reviewers who find it too frivolous for such a dramatic historical event. Critics accuse the show of portraying the Americans as wealthy, bored characters seeking excitement, while depicting Nazis as cartoonish villains. The backlash is intensified by the involvement of Anna Winger, creator of the acclaimed series 'Unorthodox'. The series joins other Netflix productions facing scrutiny, such as 'Queen Cleopatra'.