A Yenish boy experiences the Nazi euthanasia program while he is in a mental hospital.
A Yenish boy is placed in a mental hospital and experiences the Nazi euthanasia program. Aware of what is happening and attached to friends, the lad attempts to sabotage the program. The film addresses the complexities of the program director, the lives of the child victims, and the struggles of the child protagonist. More than 5,000 children were killed in the Nazi euthanasia program.—drsandivaughan
During World War II, unruly 'Jenisch' gypsy pre-teen Ernst Lossa, deemed wayward even under the lash, is sent to the boys ward of Dr. Werner Veithausen's home's boys, which he tries to run humanely, while conducting medical experiments on some. Berlin orders various handicapped or minority categories on the euthanasia list, later however abandons centralized transport and puts the fatal responsibility with each home to declare therapy pointless. Evil genius Veithausen delights the SS with a crafty, cheap and sneaky method of execution by 'feeding' condemned patients a soup cooked totally out of nutrients. Ernst gets wind of the danger and bravely steps up when well-meaning staffers are side-tracked, determined to save himself and other child lives.—KGF Vissers