Rescue of Jean Georges Ruelle

The Rescue of Jean Georges Ruelle marks the moment Vianne Mauriac transforms from a frightened woman trying to survive the occupation into an active participant in the resistance, risking her life and her family's safety to save Jewish children. On a cold day in late 1942, Vianne walks into town with her daughter Sophie and her adopted son Daniel (the hidden child of her deported best friend Rachel) to shop. She finds the streets barricaded and the town square in pandemonium: buses disgorge passengers wearing yellow stars, Nazis patrol the perimeter, and French policemen yank jewelry from women's necks and shove people at gunpoint. A young woman is shoved to the ground and dragged through the crowd by her hair. In the chaos, Hélène Ruelle, the baker's wife, appears carrying a small leather suitcase and holding the hand of her younger son, Jean Georges, while her older son stands close beside her. A yellow star identifies them. Hélène desperately tries to push Jean Georges into Vianne's arms, saying, "Take my sons." The older boy refuses to leave his mother, declaring he will follow her if she lets go. Hélène shoves the younger boy hard against Daniel, saying, "He is Jean Georges, like his uncle. Four years old this June. My husband's people are in Burgundy." Vianne protests that she has no papers for him and that she will be killed if she takes him. Before she can say more, a Nazi grabs Hélène by the hair, almost yanking her off her feet, and she and her older son are swallowed by the crowd. Jean Georges is left beside Vianne, wailing for his mother. Vianne tells Sophie they must leave immediately. Clutching Jean Georges's hand so tightly he cries harder, she hurries through the barricaded streets, dodging soldiers who are breaking down doors and herding Jewish people into the square. Twice they are stopped and allowed to pass because they wear no stars. On the muddy road home, Vianne does not stop, even when both boys are crying. At Le Jardin, she finds Sturmbannführer Von Richter's black Citroën parked out front. Sophie says, "Oh no." Vianne looks at her terrified daughter and sees her own fear reflected. She tells Sophie, "We have to try to save him or we are as bad as they are." Sophie asks how, and Vianne admits she does not know yet. Von Richter appears at the front door and approaches them. He notices Jean Georges and asks who he is. Vianne says he is a friend's boy whose mother died of tuberculosis. Von Richter recoils, ordering her to take the child to the orphanage immediately. Vianne nods and says she will. He tells her he wants her home for supper that evening because he and his men are leaving the next day to occupy the rest of France. When he is gone, Sophie asks if Mother Marie-Therese will hide the boy. Vianne says she hopes so, instructs Sophie to take Daniel into the house and lock the door, and then walks back toward town with Jean Georges. The boy alternately cries and complains, but Vianne is too nervous to hear him. She walks past the church to the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph. At the abbey's front door, she lifts the heavy iron knocker. A nun answers and leads them to the garden. Mother Superior Marie-Therese appears. Vianne tells her the boy's name is Jean Georges Ruelle and that his mother and elder son were deported that day. Mother Superior says it is dangerous to have a Jewish child in her home. Vianne says she wants to protect him. When Mother asks how, Vianne looks at her and says nothing. Mother's face drains of color as she understands: Vianne wants to hide him at the orphanage. Mother Superior stands, sits, then stands again, her hands moving to her cross. She finally sits and says a child in their care needs papers—baptismal certificates and identity papers. Vianne says she will get them, though she has no idea if it is possible. Mother Superior then says she will take the boy and could make room for more than one Jewish child. She tells Vianne she will speak to a man from the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants and that Vianne will be the leader of this effort. Vianne feels shaky but knows she is doing the right thing. She asks how she will go to scared, hungry women and ask them to give her their children. Mother tells her to ask them what they would risk to keep their child off that train and then let each mother decide. Vianne says it is an unimaginable choice. Mother leans close and warns her that Von Richter billeted at her house puts her and Sophie at terrible risk. Vianne says she cannot let Sophie believe it is all right to do nothing in times such as these. Mother lays a palm against her cheek and tells her to be careful, saying she has already been to Vianne's mother's funeral and does not want to attend hers.