Young Rebels

Produced with the participation of OMNI Television, The Young Rebels is a powerful 48-minute documentary that tells the story of Hungary’s 1956 revolution through the eyes of the teenagers who led it — and the remarkable lives they built after fleeing to Canada.

Directed by Susan Papp and written by Allen Abel, the film explores the twelve-day uprising when Hungarian youth dared to defy Soviet occupation, trading textbooks for rifles and peaceful protest for armed resistance. Though their revolution was crushed by the might of the Red Army, 37,000 Hungarian refugees were welcomed by Canada, beginning a new chapter in both their lives and Canadian history.

Filmed in Budapest and Toronto, the documentary features emotional first-person interviews with now-prominent Canadians — including business leader Frank Hasenfratz, literary publisher Anna Porter, journalist George Jonas, and educator Dr. Laszlo De Roth. Their stories reveal the bravery of young revolutionaries and the enduring scars of war, exile, and survival.

The Young Rebels is a deeply personal memoir of resistance and resilience — but it is also a broader reflection on the immigrant experience, and Canada’s historic act of compassion in offering refuge and hope.

“We knew that whatever happens, we were probably going to die.”
— Frank Hasenfratz

“Being a Revolutionary was a hell of a lot easier than being a refugee.”
— Anna Porter

Featured Voices:

• Frank Hasenfratz – Founder of Linamar, industrialist and philanthropist
• Anna Porter – Renowned publisher and Officer of the Order of Canada
• George Jonas – Author, journalist, and political commentator
• Dr. Laszlo De Roth – Acclaimed professor and education advocate