An Unknown Country: The Jewish Exiles of Ecuador

'An Unknown Country' is an independent documentary that tells the story of European Jews who escaped Nazi persecution to find refuge in an unlikely destination: Ecuador, a South American republic barely known at the time. Featuring first hand accounts, the film chronicles their harrowing search for a country that would take them in when most had closed their doors. It explores the exiles' perilous escape and difficult adjustment as they remade their lives in what was for them an exotic, unfamiliar land. It also highlights their contributions to the economic, scientific, artistic, and social life of their host country. The film fulfills a vital mission in preserving the stories of those who witnessed and endured one of the most harrowing periods of the twentieth century.