When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Parent Guide

Anna can only take one toy with her so she has to choose: does she bring her beloved old pink rabbit or her brand new stuffed dog? Hoping to return home soon, she asks Heimpi, the trusted housekeeper to take care of her rabbit. With her dog in hand, Anna says goodbye to the home she will never see again…

Why is Anna forced to choose between her toys? The answer is that it’s 1933 and the rise of Nazism is destroying the Kemper family’s place among Berlin’s cultural elite. Dorothea is a gifted musician and Arthur is a successful theater critic with a wide audience for his anti-Nazi political writings and speeches. But one night, Arthur receives a phone call warning him that the Nazis are likely to win the election and he’s on a list to be arrested. Fleeing for his safety, Arthur is gone by morning and a few days later his family follow him to Switzerland, leaving almost all their possessions behind – including pink rabbit.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is less a story about Nazism than it is about the daily experience of being a refugee. The rise of Nazism is the reason that this non-practicing Jewish family must leave their homeland, but the film rarely discusses politics or Nazi atrocities. It simply provides context for the experiences of Anna and her older brother, Max. Through their eyes, we see the pain of separation, the fear and excitement of adapting to new countries, and the challenge of learning new languages and cultures.

The movie does not gloss over the refugee experience, but it shows the power of strong families and personal resilience in overcoming unwanted circumstances. Arthur and Dorothea are struggling with their own grief at the loss of their comfortable lives, but they doggedly persist in trying to care for their children’s physical and emotional needs They repeatedly express confidence in Max and Anna’s abilities to adapt to new challenges – even learning new languages or living in a shabby flat. As the family move from country to country, Arthur tells his children that although they may never be at home again, they can always feel a little bit of home in every country, and this powerful message clearly resonates with them. This film’s themes of resilience, courage, integrity, family love, sacrifice, and persistence will be welcomed by anyone looking for an uplifting film for young viewers.

From a parent’s or teacher’s perspective, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is a home run for older children. It can be used to enrich discussions about the rise of Nazism or the evils of anti=Semitism or even the current global refugee crisis. The film comes with minimal negative content, consisting of brief discussions of Nazi violence or a few scenes of people smoking. The movie’s biggest downside for North American audiences is that the only English version currently available has subtitles. That’s a big ask for a lot of kids, and this will unfortunately restrict the size of its audience. Hopefully if the movie gets picked up by one of the streaming giants, the soundtrack will be dubbed into English. It deserves the wider audience that this would make possible.