See 'Defying the Nazis' Jan. 27 at Geneva church

January's Friday Flick will be the 2016 documentary "Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War" at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, 102 S. Second St.

The documentary, directed by Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky, is about a little-known but important mission by an American minister and his wife to rescue refugees and dissidents in Europe before and after the start of World War II.

The 90-minute film tells the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a Unitarian minister and his wife from Wellesley, Massachusetts, who left their children behind in the care of their parish and boldly committed to multiple life-threatening missions in Europe. Over two dangerous years they helped to save hundreds of imperiled political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation across Europe.

"The story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp is one of the most incredible tales of compassion, sacrifice and heroism that I have ever heard, and I was completely unaware of it until five years ago when Artemis Joukowsky first shared it with me," said Ken Burns. "Nearly three years before America as a nation became involved in the Second World War, these two unassuming, so-called 'ordinary' Americans gave up everything they knew and loved and risked their lives to become involved in a war 4,000 miles away because they knew there were people in grave danger who needed help."

At 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month, the community is invited to view and discuss documentaries examining timely issues important to social justice. No admission is charged. Refreshments are served.

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, established in 1842 and the oldest church in Geneva, is a diverse, welcoming community that endeavors to make its covenant a living reality. They provide religious education and opportunities for spiritual growth. They encourage individual and mutual responsibility as together they work to be a liberal religious voice in the community and a force for compassionate social justice. For information, visit uusg.org.