Anna and the Egyptian doctor

The extraordinary story of Dr. Mohamed Helmy – an Egyptian doctor who saved a Jewish girl during World War II in the heart of Nazi Berlin, right under Hitler’s nose.

Recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations, Helmy is the first and only Arab to receive this honor.
After years in which members of his family refused to accept the award or maintain contact with the State of Israel, his nephew, Dr. Nasser Kotby, chooses to accept the honor on Helmy’s behalf — despite the political and emotional complexities involved.

Dr. Kotby is the first Arab to openly speak about and acknowledge the Holocaust in a feature documentary film.

In Berlin, Dr. Kotby meets Carla Grinspan, daughter of Anna Boros — the Jewish girl Helmy hid and saved.
Their encounter reveals an extraordinary human story about courage, morality, and compassion that transcends religion, nationality, and time.

“Anna and the Egyptian Doctor” combines documentary filmmaking with unique cinematic animation, raising questions about personal responsibility, moral choice, and the ability to preserve humanity during history’s darkest moments.

About the Film

How the Journey Began

In 2013, I first encountered the story of Dr. Helmy.
As I deepened my research, I discovered a rare individual who acted מתוך conscience and personal courage, even when doing so endangered his own life.

Two Completely Different Films About the Same Story

In 2017, I created the documentary “Mohamed and Anna – The Courage to Save,” a film focused on the historical story of Dr. Helmy and the rescue of Anna Boros in Nazi Berlin.

The film focuses on the past and combines archival materials, documents, and contemporary footage of Berlin, alongside interviews with author Ronen Steinke, Head of the Department for the Righteous Among the Nations Irena Steinfeldt, and Holocaust survivor Zvi Abramson.

“Anna and the Egyptian Doctor” is a completely different film.

While the first film dealt with historical memory, the new film focuses on the living people who carry the story in the present — the families, the political and human consequences of recognition, and the rare encounter between an Egyptian man and a Jewish woman around the memory of the Holocaust.

Activist Cinema

This film is also an act of activist cinema — a film that not only documents history, but actively participates in shaping memory and reality.

Through the filmmaking process, Yad Vashem was ultimately able to grant Dr. Helmy the title of Righteous Among the Nations, allowing both the Egyptian and Jewish families to close a historical and personal circle.

The Cinematic Language

The film was shot in Berlin, New York, Cairo, and Israel, and combines rotoscope animation and mixed media developed together with animator Yaron Shin (Jewboy).

The visual language was created מתוך a desire to revive the story of the past in a cinematic way while creating a sense of authenticity inspired by historical archival footage.

Why This Story Matters to Me

Dr. Helmy saved the life of the Jewish girl Anna Boros using methods that would not embarrass an intelligence operative.

From my perspective, this is a story about the risk and personal cost undertaken by a moral individual who chooses to follow his conscience, against the backdrop of one of the darkest periods in human history — the Holocaust.

As a filmmaker, I see this film as a human and social mission.

At a time of growing tension between peoples and religions, it is important to shine a light on a person who viewed human life as valuable beyond racial or national identity.

The story of an Arab-Muslim doctor who saved Jews is a story of hope, compassion, human courage, and reciprocity between cultures sharing the same space.

Screenings & Audience Discussions

The film is available in both a television version (54 minutes) and a cinematic version (75 minutes), and is often accompanied by audience discussions.

Screenings can be organized for:

• Educational institutions and universities
• Communities and organizations
• Memorial events and intercultural dialogue programs
• Festivals in Israel and internationally

Panels with Holocaust scholars, religious leaders, cultural researchers, and additional experts can also be arranged according to the nature of the event.

Additional Materials

The production holds extensive historical and documentary materials related to the story, with the possibility of developing exhibitions, books, or accompanying events around the film.

Supporting the Film’s Distribution

Support is welcome for the continued international distribution and screenings of the film-