The Optimist (2026)
Herbert Heller keeps his experience as a teenage boy surviving in Auschwitz hidden from his family. Until he meets Abby, a young teenager whose own brush with pain and death inspires him to open up as well, leading the two of them to exchange their stories as a meaningful and healing friendship is born.
Director: Finn Taylor
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Stephen Lang as Herbert Heller |
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Elsie Fisher as Abbey |
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Luke David Blumm as Young Herbert Heller |
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Robin Weigert as Ruth |
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Leah Pipes as Jane |
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Ben Geurens as Gabe |
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Ursula Parker as Sabrina |
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Slavko Sobin as Herbert's Father |
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Stella Stocker as Herbert's Mother |
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Oskar Hes as Hein Heller |
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Stephanie Heiner as Linda |
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Josh Schell as Cop |
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Jake Lucas as Centurion (uncredited) |
| Production | Matthew Stillman | Co-Producer |
| Production | Jennifer Goshay | Co-Producer |
| Production | Michael Manasseri | Co-Producer |
| Production | David Minkowski | Co-Producer |
| Writing | Finn Taylor | Writer |
| Production | Greg Taxin | Executive Producer |
| Directing | Finn Taylor | Director |
| Production | George Rush | Producer |
| Production | Debi Memmolo | Executive Producer |
| Production | Noah Lang | Executive Producer |
| Production | Mirka Taylor | Co-Producer |
