When Roma Ligocka watched Schindler’s List in Germany, one image struck her to the core: the little girl in the red coat. She realized it was more than a scene—it was a mirror. As a child in the Krakow ghetto during World War II, Roma had worn a red coat, a gift from her grandmother. Unlike the girl in Spielberg’s film, Roma survived.
Haunted by this connection, Roma resolved to tell her story. From the terror of Nazi-occupied Poland to the challenges of life under Communism, her journey captures resilience and the quest for self-definition.
Through childhood trauma, artistic struggles alongside her cousin Roman Polanski, and a lifelong pursuit of happiness, Roma’s tale is a testament to the enduring human spirit. What became of the girl in the red coat?
