Miniseries to recommend: Transatlantic (Netflix, 2023)

I started watching a limited miniseries on Netflix last night titled Transatlantic, and, after watching the first two episodes, I will go back and finish it. The premise is that there is a young woman of both privilege and morals living in Marseilles in 1940; she works with a few others to smuggle "intellectuals and Jews" out of France. Her father disapproves of her being in Europe at such a dangerous time, and has insisted she return home to Chicago--she doesn't-- and he cuts off her generous allowance. This is where I've left off; I have no idea how she is going to keep funding the cause, but there are already hints that her "friendship" with an older man is one route, and a seedy one, at that. There is an implication that she's used the only tools she has for a woman in 1940, in her position, and that makes me cringe. It's a sacrifice that never really pays off, but it's one that has been made over and over again in human history.

It's kind of timely, this series that just came out in 2023. There are far too many places in the world where people are trapped, occupied by violence and senseless conflicts, and they must be helped. While this series is clearly set during the turbulent and horrifying times of WWII just prior to the United States getting officially involved, the message is clear, at least so far: those with time, talent, treasure, and privilege should do what they can to help, and not wait for governments to figure things out. They won't, at least not in time to save individuals who are caught up in the middle of these terrible events. Human costs must be counted in individuals, which is almost impossible for governments to work with, both practically and as a concept. 

The series is also addressing, somewhat more obliquely so far, other issues beyond the Nazis' hunt for Jews and intellectuals in Europe. It is also touching on issues of color, gender, illicit love, women's dependency-- all problems then, and problems now. I'm glad I found this to watch. I'll let you know how it goes.

Have a good day,

C