Cancer Survivor Honors Friend with Holocaust Film

When Jeanine Thomas faced Stage 4 lung cancer, she made herself a promise: if she survived, she would tell the world about her friend Herbert Heller.

Thomas kept that promise. Her new film "The Optimist" opened in theaters nationwide on March 11, bringing to life the incredible true story of Heller, who escaped Auschwitz at age 15 and went on to help hundreds of students find hope in their own struggles.

The film follows an elderly Heller as he shares his story with a troubled teenager named Abby. Their unlikely friendship transforms both their lives, exploring the meaning of suffering and the power of human connection.

Thomas first met Heller in 2014 through his grandson. She immediately felt drawn to the sweet, humorous man who called himself lucky despite everything he had endured. They became close friends, visiting every other week until he felt like a grandfather to her.

At 88, Heller asked Thomas to help him share his story with students. She started at her son's school, where young people sat mesmerized as Heller described being the same age they were when the Nazis took him. Word spread, and soon he was speaking at schools across Northern California.

One of the film's most powerful scenes recreates Heller's encounter with Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician known as "the angel of death." Young Herbert convinces Mengele to let him live by promising he can work. The trauma of that moment haunted Heller for decades.

After escaping Auschwitz, Heller found refuge with a Catholic family who took him in, bathed him, and gave him clothes. The film honors the crucial role these brave people played in saving his life and his family's future.

Thomas nearly didn't live to finish the project. In 2021, doctors found tumors and told her she had a 50% chance of surviving surgery. The night before, she heard a voice asking if she was ready to go or ready to stay and complete her mission.

"I've got to make this film," she remembers thinking.

Why This Inspires

Thomas is giving 40% of her proceeds to organizations helping Holocaust survivors and supporting youth mental health. The film partners with KAVOD SHEF, which aids Holocaust survivors in need, and Bring Change to Mind, which empowers young people to discuss mental health openly.

Heller spent his final years ensuring young people understood both the horrors of hatred and the power of resilience. Through Thomas's film, his voice continues reaching new generations.

"It's kind of my kickoff back into my purpose in life," Thomas said. "It's the beginning."