Given the structure of your app, it seems like the only way to get a reference to the friendsListTableViewController is to look up the chain of views. Since, the method nextResponder will return the view controller of a view that it's responsible for, the following should get you a reference to the needed view controller from the custom cell's implementation file.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.