The movie was shown 365 times on more than 330 screens in theatres across Korea in November and December. 

“Sabina: Tortured for Christ, the Nazi Years” tells the true story of Sabina Wurmbrand and her husband, Richard, the co-founders of the nonprofit The Voice of the Martyrs, an interdenominational missions organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Set in Romania at the time of the Nazi and Soviet occupations surrounding the Second World War, the film chronicles Sabina’s transformation from a hedonistic atheist Jew to a Christian who meets and ultimately forgives one of the German soldiers responsible for the death of her entire family at a concentration camp. The experience leads her to join her husband in risking their lives to lead their enemies to Christ, and to serve the Christians who are persecuted at their enemies’ hands. 

“Richard and Sabina were exemplary Biblical disciples. Their story pushes each of us to rethink our concept of forgiveness and what it looks like to love our enemies as Jesus instructed,” said Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley.  

The movie, filmed on-site in Romania and produced by a Romanian crew, won the Best Feature, Audience Choice and Best Original Film Score awards at the 2021 Christian Worldview Filmmakers Guild and Festival, as well as the Best Feature Film, Best Lead and Supporting Actor and Best Lead and Supporting Actress awards at the 2021 Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival.  

“Making a period piece like ‘Sabina’ was a delightful artistic challenge – recreating what Romania looked like in the 1930’s and 40’s down to every fine detail like fashion, automobiles and storefronts,” says the movie’s director, John Grooters. “But even more substantially, I find Sabina Wurmbrand to be one of the greatest women of the 20th century, and it’s a joy getting to introduce her to modern audiences.” 

The movie is a prequel to The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2018 award-winning film, “Tortured for Christ”, which tells the true story of Sabina’s husband Richard Wurmbrand as he endured 14 years of prison and torture while continuing to practice and share his faith. More than 30,000 viewers watched the Tortured for Christ movie in special free online showings offered by Voice of the Martyrs Korea last year. Representative Foley says she is hoping for an equally strong response to the free online showing of the Sabina movie during Holy Week. 

“Both the Sabina movie and the Tortured for Christ movie are truly amazing movies, but in some ways Sabina’s story is even more powerful because all of us have the experience of struggling to forgive people in life who have really hurt us,” says Representative Foley. “Not everyone will go to prison for their faith for 14 years like Pastor Wurmbrand did, but all of us will face the challenge of living out Christ’s radical call to love and forgive our enemies. Sabina’s story shows us how. And because she started as an atheistic and a carefree person and was transformed into being a Christian through the power of forgiveness, her story is truly inspiring. Everyone who watches the movie tells us how encouraging it is to them.” 

Here are comments from theatregoers after watching the movie:  

“I just came out of the theater. I’m too touched to say anything else… selfishness and anger in me lost its power and blew over” 

“It was a time to realize that the word forgiveness is so courageous, great, and great after seeing how we overcome with faith as a Christian in the midst of darkness.” 

“It’s a real-life movie that makes you think about every single thing the characters say. It’s incredibly impressive and amazing to be able to live like that in real life. It’s a movie I want to see again.”

“Overwhelming movie. If you are Christian, you should watch this. Lord, have mercy on our souls.” 

Individuals interested in watching “Sabina: Tortured for Christ, the Nazi Years” for free can go to www.vomkorea.com/sabina beginning Saturday April 9 and continuing through Easter day April 17 and follow the instructions on the page to view the movie.  

Churches in Korea who are interested in scheduling an in-person showing of the movie for their congregation can contact the ministry at 02-2065-0703.