The Andrew Klavan Show The Catholic Priest Who Gave His Life At Auschwitz | Cecilia Stevenson
Sep 17, 2025
Cecilia Stevenson, a film producer known for her work on faith-based stories like Triumph of the Heart, shares insights into the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Holocaust. They discuss the journey of transforming Kolbe’s powerful story into a feature film, including challenges in production, casting in Poland, and the importance of portraying Auschwitz with respect. The conversation highlights the film's faith-driven message and its grassroots release strategy.
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Kolbe’s Sacrificial Choice
- Maximilian Kolbe volunteered to take another prisoner's place when ten men were sentenced to die at Auschwitz.
- He spent 14 days comforting the condemned men before Nazis killed them with injections when starvation failed.
Hope Sustains Under Horrific Conditions
- Kolbe's presence brought hope and love that sustained men through extreme suffering.
- Their survival for 14 days revealed spiritual resilience that resisted the Nazis' intent to erase dignity.
Short Film Seeded The Feature
- The team first made a 20-minute short in 2017 for a Dallas diocesan young adult series on suffering.
- The short's warm reception later motivated expanding the story into a feature film.