Well Go USA Entertainment Acquires ‘The Optimist’ For Digital Release On November 17

EXCLUSIVE: Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired Holocaust survivor drama The Optimist, for a digital release on November 17, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD launch on December 18.

The digital push follows the film’s wide U.S. theatrical release by Trafalgar Releasing in March.

Written and directed by Finn Taylor, and developed and produced by Jeanine Thomas, The Optimist stars Stephen Lang (Avatar: Fire and Ash) as Holocaust survivor Herbert Heller.

The cross-generational story of healing and resilience is inspired by the real-life figure of Heller who after surviving the Terezín and Auschwitz concentration camps and escaping the 1945 death march as a teenager went on to build a quiet life in San Francisco as an adult.

In The Optimist, when illness forces Heller to confront his long-suppressed horrific memories, he forms an unlikely friendship with Abby (Elsie Fisher), a troubled teenager grappling with struggles of her own. Through their shared vulnerability, Herbert finds the courage to share his story publicly, forging a path toward healing for them both.

The film moves back and forth between the present and past, starting with Heller’s childhood growing up in a secular Jewish family in Prague in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and their deteriorating situation following the German occupation, and moving onto their experiences in the camps.

The ensemble cast also includes Luke David Blumm (The King of Staten Island), Leah Pipes (The Originals), Ben Geurens (Reign), Ursula Parker (Louie), Slavko Sobin (The Zookeeper’s Wife), Stella Stocker (The Batman), Oskar Hes (Brothers), and Robin Weigert (Deadwood).

Todd Slater (Ray) of Convoke Media executive produced the picture.

“The Optimist is not only an inspiring drama but a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit and the profound impact of unexpected friendships,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President and CEO of Well Go USA Entertainment. “We’re proud to bring this film to audiences at home and hope its uplifting message resonates with viewers long after the credits roll.”

More than a decade in the making, The Optimist began when producer Jeanine Thomas met Heller in 2014 and spent considerable time with him before deciding to embark on this passion project.

“When I saw Herbert speak at schools and the effect he had on the students (and staff), I knew this needed to be a film,” she explains Thomas.

Director Taylor said his life was life transformed by his meeting with Heller.

“After Jeanine tasked me to help make a feature film based on Herbert’s life, I felt a huge responsibility,” she said.

“We spent eight years with a crew of hundreds on two continents creating The Optimist based on Herbert’s incredible story.  Now I’m excited to see the film expand from its theatrical run into the world of streaming.  Epic stories, like Herbert’s echo with a shockwave around the world.” 

The film was produced by Thomas and Noah Lang. The deal was brokered by executive producer Todd Slater of Convoke Media and Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA Entertainment.