Sidonie

On August 18, 1933, the gatekeeper at Steyr Hospital discovered a sleeping child. The Breitners, a working-class couple, took little Sidonie in as a foster child. It did not bother them that Sidonie was a Romani child. Their son Manfred, in particular, adored his little stepsister. So, despite some hostility in the village, Sidonie grew up peacefully and protected within this family. In 1943, the Breitners suddenly received notice that Sidonie was allegedly being reclaimed by her biological mother. Under this pretext, the girl is eventually taken away against the Breitners’ resistance and transported with many others in freight cars toward Auschwitz. Based on this true story, Erich Hackl wrote the book “Farewell to Sidonie” and collaborated with director Karin Brandauer on the screenplay for her film.