Determined: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Avraham Perlmutter is a special documentary indeed. You realize that as soon as Avraham Perlmutter sits down and faces the audience. He’s definitely ready to tell you the true story of his amazing life! You fall under his spell quickly, for although it’s hard to believe what he endured, you believe everything he says -- and you want to hear as much as possible about him.

Written and directed with great care by his daughter Keren Perlmutter, the film is based on Avraham’s popular autobiography and could be told in a dramatic feature film. But then you would miss Avraham’s own presentation of his incredible experiences. And that would be a shame.

Fortunately, Keren has interspersed wonderful archival images such as beautiful photographs of the Perlmutter family and friends, relevant newspaper articles, and historic black-and-white film clips plus an excellent background score. But Avraham remains the star of this unique production.

The most fascinating part of this story involves Avraham’s early life after being sent from his home in Vienna, Austria, in 1939 to Holland as a way to protect him from the Nazis. That part of his life ended in 1945 when he was only 17. During those years, many Dutch families risked their own lives to help him. Besides avoiding capture, he learned how to play chess, speak new languages -- and to trust his own instinct.       

Young Jewish boy is sent away

when Nazi’s come that fateful day.

Good strangers take the boy inside,

and he finds places where to hide.

Six years of hiding for this child

who faced escapes that seem so wild!

Extraordinary life is his.

A remarkable film this is.

DETERMINED tells it all with flair.

Avraham explains from his chair.

Great storyteller’s eyes on you

while he gives helpers their true due.

Humanity reigns and gives us hope.

We cheer and are inspired to cope.

Persistence helped the boy survive.

So happy that he’s still alive!

As an adult, Avraham Perlmutter accomplished many things. After World War II, he fought in the Israeli War of Independence. He then immigrated to the United States to study aeronautical engineering and earned a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an award-winning scientist and successful businessman. Avraham also raised a great family and never forgets about the people who helped him along the way.   

The world premiere of Determined: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Avraham Perlmutter was set for March 29 (2020) at the 18th annual Garden State Film Festival where the film won "Best Orchestration  from a Documentary." This festival is now virtual. For more information, click on these links: https://www.determinedstory.com/ or www.GSFF.org