Back to the Fatherland 2019

Life in Israel is often fraught with stress, yet this is not the sole reason young individuals are choosing to distance themselves from the “holy land.” Many secular, liberal Jews feel marginalized, voiceless in the fabric of Israeli society.

Enter Gil Levanon and Katharina Maschek, two filmmakers who forged a bond during their college days in New York City a decade ago. Their backgrounds are starkly contrasting; Gil hails from Israel, while Kat comes from Austria. The differences in their family histories further highlight their unique perspectives: Gil is the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, while Kat is descended from a Nazi officer.

Within this complex backdrop, we are introduced to three Israeli grandchildren and their respective grandparents. Gil Levanon revisits her roots by consulting her grandfather Yochanan Tenzer, grappling with the notion of relocating to Berlin. Her apprehension about his reaction is palpable, especially knowing that at just 15 years old, his parents sent him away from Germany for safety, leaving him never to see them again. Yochanan’s deep-seated distrust of Germany compels him to respond to Gil’s aspirations with a definitive statement: > “No, never!”

Yochanan’s vehement rejection, coupled with the increasing trend of secular Israeli youth relocating to Germany and Austria, inspires Gil and Kat on an exploratory journey. They set out to locate other descendants of Holocaust survivors who made similar choices. Their quest leads them to Dan Peled and Guy Shahar, two young men who have already committed to the life that Gil is still contemplating.

Having moved to Berlin a few years back, Dan, a budding sculptor, faces disapproval from his grandmother Lea Ron Peled, who struggles to comprehend and accept his decision. In an attempt to find closure and understanding, Dan invites his 91-year-old grandmother on a poignant journey to Vienna, the city of her youth. Through this powerful trip, long-held tensions begin to dissolve, offering a chance for reconciliation between generations. Who could have predicted that Lea’s return to the landmarks of her past anguish would spark such harmony between her and her grandson?