In Nazi-occupied Europe, a Jewish Olympic boxer is sent to the concentration camps—only to survive by fighting for his life in the ring. Based on the true story of Dutch athlete Ben Bril, this project explores the cost of dignity, the weaponization of sport, and the endurance of the human spirit.
Lyrae Films is developing a feature film inspired by the extraordinary true story of Ben Bril—a teenage boxing prodigy who represented the Netherlands in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, only to be deported to Bergen-Belsen during World War II. Inside the camps, Bril’s fame as a fighter offered him a brutal form of survival: organizing and participating in matches staged for the SS, where defeat could mean death.
A quiet act of resistance told through sweat, fists, and silence, this film will dramatize Bril’s journey from public hero to hidden survivor, illuminating a lesser-known corner of Holocaust history. The story explores themes of identity, masculinity, and the corruption of sport under fascism—all through the intimate lens of a fighter forced to endure.
The project is currently in early development and research, with the intent to pursue rights and engage with relevant historical sources and archives.
The story of Ben Bril offers a rare lens into Holocaust survival through sport—shedding light on a Jewish Olympic boxer who fought for his life inside the camps. With global relevance and deep emotional power, this project blends sports drama with historical thriller, positioned for both international audiences and awards consideration.
Lyrae is currently developing this as a character-driven prestige film with modest production scale and high-impact potential. Research and outreach to historical partners are underway.
At a time of rising antisemitism and fading historical memory, Ben Bril’s story reminds us that resistance can take many forms—even in the ring. His fight for dignity under Nazi rule speaks urgently to today’s cultural moment, reclaiming a forgotten chapter of Holocaust and Olympic history for a new generation.
projects
Request Access to More Materials
