During World War II, Jewish people seek refuge far away. Some of them hope to make a new start in Finland. However, Finland’s alliance with Nazi Germany threatens to escalate the situation when Jewish refugees are to be forcibly deported to German concentration camps. Abraham Stiller, a respected member of the Jewish community in Finland, cannot stand idly by. The textile manufacturer does everything in his power to accommodate the refugees in his production facilities in order to protect them, pushing himself to his limits in the process.
Based on true events, Finnish director Klaus Härö tells the moving story of an unwavering hero who risked everything to save the lives of Jewish people. “Never Alone” is a powerful film about courage, resilience, and bravery.
As the shadow of World War II spreads across Central Europe, many Jews flee Hitler’s tyranny and seek refuge in distant lands. Some end up in Finland, hoping for a new beginning, but the turmoil of war draws Finland into an alliance with Nazi Germany. Suddenly, the safe haven is no longer so safe. Amid growing tensions and palpable fear, a glimmer of hope emerges.
Abraham Stiller, a prominent member of the Jewish community in Helsinki and philanthropist, stands tall. With his lively personality, booming voice, and unwavering commitment to protecting Jewish asylum seekers, he repeatedly assures them: “This is Finland, not Germany.” But when Jewish refugees are suddenly torn from their families and deported to labor camps near German troops in northern Finland, Stiller’s resolve is put to the test. Determined to uncover the truth and save those entrusted to him, Stiller turns to Arno Anthoni, the newly appointed chief of the state police. Instead of finding an ally, Stiller faces a terrifying threat that endangers not only the refugees, but the entire Finnish Jewish community.
In a treacherous game of politics and loyalties, Stiller balances on a knife edge, navigating between personal emotions and cold strategy. Never Alone is a story of resilience, defiance, and the unshakeable promise to protect one’s loved ones in the face of unimaginable adversity.
“Never Alone” already has an impressive festival journey behind it: after its world premiere as the opening film of the Baltic Competition at PÖFF (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival) in November 2024, it had its US premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. There, the film was invited to the prestigious “Modern Masters” section and awarded the “Best of Fest – Top Films Audience Award.”
The film also enjoyed success in Germany: the German premiere took place on June 13, 2025, as part of the 35th International Film Festival Emden-Norderney. There, Klaus Härö was honored with the Silver SCORE Bernhard Wicki Award, presented by the audience.
Title: Never Alone (German title: Nie Allein | Original title: Ei Koskaan Yksin)
Director: Klaus Härö
Screenplay: Klaus Härö, Jimmy Karlsson
Producers: Ilkka Matila, Loredana Rehekampff & Andreas Schmied, Josef Brandmaier & John Hoernschemeye, Kristian Taska & Adeele Tähemaa, Peter Krupenin
Cast: Ville Virtanen, Nina Hukkinen, Rony Herman, Naemi Latzer, Satu Tuuli Karhu, Kari Hietalahti, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Carl-Kristian Rundman, Lukas Walcher u.a.
Cinematography: Robert Nordström
Edited by: Tambet Tasuja
Music: Matti Bye
Genres: Drama, History
Production Companies: Matila Röhr Productions (Finnland), Samsara Filmproduktion (Österreich), Penned Pictures (Deutschland), HOBAB (Schweden), u.a.
Country of production: Finnland, Österreich, Deutschland, Estland, Schweden
Year of production: 2024
Languages: Finnisch, Schwedisch, Hebräisch, Deutsch
Subtitles: Deutsch, Englisch
Rating : PG6 (Germany: FSK:12 Jahren
Descriptors: Threat, stressful issues
Length: 85 Minuten
Aspect ratio: 2:39:1
Projection formats: DCP (DCI 2K Scope)
Resolution: 2048×858 Pixel
Sound: 5.1 (DCP) / 2.0
Premiere:
November 13, 2024
PÖFF (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival)
Distribution (Germany): UCM.ONE
Verleihlabel: B-Spree Pictures
Theatrical Release (Germany): 05. Februar 2026
Ville Virtanen (Better Times, Priest of Evil) plays the lead role of Abraham Stiller, while Nina Hukkinen plays his wife Vera. The political dimension of the historical conflict is represented by Hannu-Pekka Björkman as Finance Minister Väinö Tanner, Carl-Kristian Rundman as Interior Minister Toivo Horelli, and Jouko Puolanto in the role of Prime Minister Johan Wilhelm Rangell. Kari Hietalahti takes on the role of State Police Chief Arno Anthoni.
The fate of the Jewish refugees is portrayed by, among others, Austrian actor Rony Herman as Georg Kollmann, as well as Naemi Latzer and Rafael Simson Gouveia, who play his family (Janka and son Franz), who were deported in November 1942. Other roles of the deportees are played by Rain Tolk as Heinrich Huppert and Ruben Tolk as his son Kurt.
The ensemble is completed by Lukas Walcher as a German officer and Alexander Jagsch in the role of Heinrich Müller. The narrative framework is completed by Satu Tuuli Karhu as journalist Elina Sana, who conducts the interviews with Abraham Stiller in 1972.
Klaus Härö (born in Finland in 1971) studied directing at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. In 2002, he made his feature film debut with the children’s film “Elina,” which was Finland’s entry for an Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2004. Klaus Härö became known primarily for “My Sailor, My Love” (2022) and “The Fencer” (2015), which was nominated for a Golden Globe and was once again on the Oscar list for Best Foreign Language Film.
Filmography (selection)
| 2024 | Never Alone (feature film) |
| 2022 | My Sailor, My Love (feature film) |
| 2018 | One Last Deal (feature film) |
| 2015 | The Fencer (feature film) |
| 2009 | Letter to Father Jacob (feature film) |
The moving historical drama “Never Alone” (original title: Ei Koskaan Yksin) will be released in German cinemas nationwide on February 5, 2026. UCM.ONE is bringing the latest internationally produced work by renowned Finnish director Klaus Härö to the big screen—a moving story of an unwavering hero who risked everything to save the lives of Jewish…
UCM.ONE is bringing the impressive historical drama“Nie Allein” (original title:“Ei Koskaan Yksin”, English title:“Never Alone”) to German cinemas nationwide on February 5, 2026 . The new film by director Klaus Härö tells a moving story about civil courage, responsibility and humanity – based on historical events that have long been overshadowed by the European culture…
