Sarah's Key

In 1942, brave 10-year-old Sarah Starzynski faces a dire situation as she tries to protect her younger brother. To keep him safe, she locks him in a secret closet, instructing him to stay hidden until she returns.

Sarah and her family are forcibly taken to the Vélodrome d'Hiver, where they encounter horrendous living conditions. Under watchful eyes of the Paris Police and French Secret Service, the fear and uncertainty grow for Sarah and the other deportees.

As conditions worsen, the deportees are moved to the Beaune-la-Rolande internment camp. Unfortunately, the adults are later deported to Auschwitz, leaving the children behind in a state of abandonment and dread.

In a daring escape attempt alongside her friend Rachel, Sarah finds herself caught by a compassionate Paris police guard. Pleading for their freedom, he hesitates but ultimately helps them escape by raising the barbed wire.

The girls seek refuge in a dog house on the Dufaure family farm. Despite the risks associated with aiding the girls, Jules and Genevieve Dufaure choose to protect them from the lurking dangers of the outside world.

As Rachel's health declines, the Dufaures call for a doctor, attracting the attention of a skeptical German officer. The situation escalates tragically when a French doctor arrives carrying Rachel's lifeless body, deepening Sarah's anguish.

After several days, the Dufaures return Sarah to her family's apartment in Paris. When an older boy answers the door, Sarah frantically rushes to unlock the cupboard where she left her brother, only to uncover a heart-wrenching truth.

In the aftermath of the war, Sarah is taken in by the Dufaures, living alongside their two grandsons. As she grows, the trauma of her past lingers, shaping her life and experiences.

At 18, Sarah relocates to the United States, hoping to escape the painful memories of her past. While she starts a new life and raises a family, her hidden history continues to haunt her.

Years later, after her son William is born, Sarah, burdened by guilt over her brother's fate, finds herself in a dark place. Tragically, her life ends abruptly when she drives her car into an oncoming truck, leaving behind unanswered questions.

Fast forward to the present, journalist Julia inherits her husband's grandparents' apartment. Discovering a link to the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, she becomes passionate about uncovering the true story of Sarah's life.

Despite her father-in-law's warnings to cease her inquiries, Julia embarks on a relentless quest to trace Sarah Starzynski's history. Her research leads her to discover William, who is unaware of his mother's Jewish heritage.

Upon learning of his mother's background from Julia, William initially dismisses the claims. However, after a painful confrontation with his dying father Richard, he realizes the heavy truth about his family's past.

With her own challenges, Julia discovers she's pregnant after years of trying to conceive. Following her husband's departure from their marriage, she resolves to keep the child and eventually moves to New York City with her daughters.

Two years later, William and Julia reconnect at a restaurant that holds special meaning for Sarah. The emotional moment deepens when Julia reveals her daughter's name is Sarah, bringing forth an overwhelming sense of shared history between them.