Irena’s Vow: The Overlooked WWII Drama Finding a New Audience on Netflix

A quietly powerful World War II drama is finding a second life on Netflix, years after receiving relatively little attention on its original release.

Irena’s Vow, starring Sophie Nélisse, has now landed on the streaming service and quickly climbed into Netflix’s Top 10 films of the week. Based on the extraordinary true story of Polish nurse Irena Gut, the 2023 film follows one woman’s dangerous decision to shelter Jewish people during the Holocaust.

Nélisse, who has also appeared as Rose Landry in Heated Rivalry, takes on a dramatically different role here. She plays Irena, a young Polish Catholic woman whose courage is tested after she is placed in charge of a German commandant’s household.

What Is Irena’s Vow About?

Directed by Louise Archambault and written by Dan Gordon, Irena’s Vow is based on the Broadway play of the same name as well as the real experiences of Irena Gut Opdyke.

In the film, Irena is working as a housekeeper for a German Army officer when she learns that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated.

Rather than stand by, she decides to hide Jewish people in the basement of the German commandant’s home.

The situation becomes increasingly dangerous as Irena attempts to keep those she is protecting hidden while living and working in a house controlled by the occupying forces.

The story ultimately focuses on the extraordinary risks she takes to protect others during one of the darkest periods of the 20th century.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the real-life story depicted in the film centres on Irena Gut, who sheltered 12 Jewish workers in the basement of a German commandant’s house. She continued hiding them for two years, using her resourcefulness and courage to keep them safe during the German occupation.

Sophie Nélisse Leads the Cast

For Nélisse, the role represents a striking departure from her work in Heated Rivalry.

Rather than playing a contemporary supporting character, she takes the lead as Irena Gut Opdyke, carrying much of the film through a performance built around fear, determination and moral courage.

The cast also includes Dougray Scott as Rugmer and Andrzej Seweryn as Schultz, alongside Eliza Rycembel, Maciej Nawrocki and other Polish and international performers.

The film was directed by Canadian filmmaker Louise Archambault, with Dan Gordon adapting his own stage play for the screen. It has a runtime of 121 minutes.

What Have Critics Said About Irena’s Vow?

The film received a largely positive critical response, although reviews have also acknowledged that its approach to the Holocaust is more restrained than some other films about the period.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Irena’s Vow currently holds an 86% Tomatometer score from 36 reviews and an 82% audience score.

Writing for RogerEbert.com, Christy Lemire praised the story as one that demands attention while highlighting Nélisse’s engaging performance.

Other critics have similarly pointed to the film’s emotional impact and its portrayal of courage in the face of overwhelming danger.

The response has not been entirely unanimous. Some reviews have argued that the film’s treatment of Nazi persecution can feel too restrained, but even those assessments have recognised the extraordinary nature of the story at its centre.

A Second Chance on Netflix

Irena’s Vow was released in 2024 after premiering at festivals, but it did not become a major theatrical hit. Its worldwide box office total was approximately $1.49 million.

Now, Netflix is giving the film a much larger potential audience.

Its arrival on the platform has pushed the previously overlooked WWII drama into Netflix’s weekly Top 10 film rankings, giving viewers who may have missed it the opportunity to discover Irena Gut’s remarkable story.

For anyone drawn to historical dramas based on true events, Irena’s Vow offers a deeply personal perspective on the Holocaust — one centred not on armies or battlefields, but on a woman who risked her own life to protect people targeted for destruction.

Irena’s Vow is now available to stream on Netflix.