We Were the Lucky Ones is an adaptation of my book of the same name. It follows my relatives, the Kurc family, as they scatter at the start of the Second World War, determined to survive and to reunite. The 8-part series spans nine years and four continents and is live now on Hulu and Disney+. My heart is full of awe and gratitude for the brilliant humans who have touched this project!
A Best TV Score of 2024
I couldn’t agree more with IndieWire’s review of our magical score. “A gorgeously elegant and elegiac Rachel Portman theme would’ve been enough to be thankful for. But Portman’s collaboration with Jon Ehrlich on the “We Were the Lucky Ones” score goes well beyond one emotional note. The music here is wise enough not to try…
Critics Choice Award Nominated!
Beyond honored over our two Critics Choice Award nominations: Best Limited Series (We Were the Lucky Ones) and Best Supporting Actor (Logan Lerman for his suberb interpretation of my grandfather). It’s deeply gratifying to receive this endorsement from our toughest and most impartial audience – the critics. What a tribute to the incredibly talented directors,…
A Top-Five Hulu Show
Digitaltrends considers “We Were the Lucky Ones” one of Hulu’s top five shows, calling it “a careful mosaic of the various ways that the world was impacted by the war.” Their description concludes: “Lead actors Joey King and Logan Lerman turned in some of the best work of their young careers so far, and the…
Joey King and Erica Lipez Reunited
Joey King gave a heartfelt introduction to Erica Lipez at Variety’s ceremony for the Faith & Media’s Spirituality in Entertainment Honor. Joey spoke of Erica’s warmth, kindness and leadership, which, she said, motivated the cast and company to give their all in representing the Kurc family story. Erica said she feels that the humanity portrayed…
“An intelligent, feeling, multithread family drama”
That’s how the LA Times describes WWTLO in its list of The Best Shows of 2024, adding that it’s “a study of character under the pressure of history.” We certainly appreciate finding ourselves in such good company. Scroll down to the photo of Joey King as Halina for the full story.
Erica Lipez Honored by Variety
Kudos to Erica Lipez, our brilliant writer/creator/showrunner/executive producer, for being awarded the Coalition for Faith & Media’s Spirituality in Entertainment Honor. A ceremony hosted by Variety will celebrate “individuals who are supporting often underrepresented themes of faith in storytelling and entertainment.” Erica could not be more deserving of this prestigious tribute, which aims to ensure…
“A breathtaking experience”
Awards Daily 2025 took a deep dive into some of the emotions and cinematic decisions behind the WWTLO adaptation. “Director and Executive Producer Thomas Kail has a strong connection with this story,” writes Joey Moser, “and he makes this limited series feel overwhelmingly urgent.” Describing the scene when Nechuma is not allowed back into her…
“stories I’d never seen before”
Variety examined our adaptation in the context of the need to find new perspectives amidst “a mighty wave of content that comes 85 years after the war began with Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, an event depicted in We Were the Lucky Ones.” Show runner and executive producer Erica Lipez noted that “embedded in…
Ambassador Souza Dantas
Brazilian Ambassador to France Souza Dantas, based in Vichy during the German occupation, saved hundreds of lives by issuing unauthorized visas to Jews and others facing deportation and worse. Kveller details this history, including the fact that my grandfather was one of the fortunate recipients of the Ambassador’s compassion. Full story here.
Fala português?
For those who can read Portuguese, here’s an article in the Brazilian magazine Claudia about We Were the Lucky Ones or, as the series is called in Brazil, Nós Tivemos Sorte. I love that they feature a shot of the Farinholt family cameo in the scene where Addy races through the streets of Rio for…
