The Optimist

The Optimist is a drama about Herbert Heller, a man who spent decades concealing his teenage experiences as a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp from his own family. He eventually forms a bond with a teenager named Abby, who has also faced significant loss and suffering. The two develop a healing friendship based on a mutual exchange of their personal histories and emotional traumas.

Written and directed by Finn Taylor, the film follows his previous work, The Darwin Awards. The cast features Stephen Lang as Herbert Heller and Elsie Fisher as Abby, with Luke David Blumm portraying the younger version of Herbert. Other roles are played by Robin Weigert, Leah Pipes, and Ben Geurens. This production was a collaboration between companies in the United States and the Czech Republic, including Stillking Films, Convoke Media, and Witchcraft Motion Picture Company.

Released on March 11, 2026, the movie has a runtime of 102 minutes. It currently holds a rating of 7.3/10 on TMDB, though this score is based on only three votes.