HOW DID CURIOUS GEORGE ESCAPE THE NAZIS? A documentary film exploring the extraordinary lives of Hans and Margaret Rey, who are the authors of Curious George children’s books. Margret described Curious George as a “monkey who, through his curiosity, gets himself into trouble, and through his own ingenuity gets himself out of trouble.” She could have been describing the Reys themselves. Time and time again they encountered difficult situations only to turn moments of despair into hope. Who the Reys were is why we have George; this film shares that story. The Curious George books have sold over 75 million copies in 19 languages. Few people know much about the Reys’ personal life stories. The Reys had a treacherous escape and long journey on June 12, 1940; H.A. and Margaret made their getaway on the rainy Paris roads by bicycle (with the Curious George book hidden in their basket). Their dangerous journey and narrow escape is nothing short of miraculous. The Rey’s traveled roughly 493 miles to Bayonne, France; unfortunately, facing closed borders when they arrived at Spain. Their lives rested in the hands of one man, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese consulgeneral in Bayonne during WWII. He issued them visas to Lisbon, then they traveled to Brazil, with a final destination New York City, in 1942. At that moment the beloved character of Curious George was born, and, entered the hearts of American children. Who knew, that behind such a warm and fuzzy character of innocent mischief and endless silliness rested a bold and historic journey, by his creators, Margaret and Hans Rey?

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