It's not uncommon for Holocaust survivors to run away from their trauma while their descendants run towards it, but the emotional truth behind that discovery is missing in this film.
First off, excellent review--thoughtful, reflective, and, from the sounds of it, generously charitable. I just looked it up, and "Treasure" was written and directed by Julia von Heinz, a German filmmaker born in the early 70s (in the "in-between," we might say) and based on Lily Brett's award-winning "Too Many Men." With that in mind, the story's artless presentation is even more fraught.
What does Holocaust memory look like when it is refracted through so many lenses? Not just through the experiences of the child of a Survivor, but also the interpretive gaze of someone born in the age of German regret?
"Performance of Jewishness" -- wow, that's a loaded phrase. I never heard of that but look forward to reading it. I didn't know much (ok anything) about filmmaker but now you will make me rethink it a bit. The film was politically sanitized, which I think did it a disservice.
I had never heard the phrase either. The essay's a doozy. Very strange, surreal stuff, but illuminating, I think, in tracing the arcing historical shape of Shoah memory.
What I find interesting about this is that we also wished Hannah would grow, evolve, or at least try to. Lena Dunham is one of those polarizing Hollywood characters who seems to typecast herself. Excellent review! Thank you for sharing.
She yells at strangers in an elevator for laughing in Polish.
They were NOT speaking Polish, they spoke GERMAN.
So I kinda understand her reaction.
They were talking about getting saluted.
The other thing is she grew up amarican. And I (as German) came to understand that most American are most of the time very conservative about sexuality.
I was hoping to find out if she claimed her right about the reality?
Wow, Leah. As you write, where to start?
First off, excellent review--thoughtful, reflective, and, from the sounds of it, generously charitable. I just looked it up, and "Treasure" was written and directed by Julia von Heinz, a German filmmaker born in the early 70s (in the "in-between," we might say) and based on Lily Brett's award-winning "Too Many Men." With that in mind, the story's artless presentation is even more fraught.
What does Holocaust memory look like when it is refracted through so many lenses? Not just through the experiences of the child of a Survivor, but also the interpretive gaze of someone born in the age of German regret?
And then there's the question of who gets to hold the light. There was a fantastic essay about German "performance of Jewishness" in the Baffler that comes to mind: https://thebaffler.com/latest/how-german-isnt-it-cocotas
"Performance of Jewishness" -- wow, that's a loaded phrase. I never heard of that but look forward to reading it. I didn't know much (ok anything) about filmmaker but now you will make me rethink it a bit. The film was politically sanitized, which I think did it a disservice.
I had never heard the phrase either. The essay's a doozy. Very strange, surreal stuff, but illuminating, I think, in tracing the arcing historical shape of Shoah memory.
What I find interesting about this is that we also wished Hannah would grow, evolve, or at least try to. Lena Dunham is one of those polarizing Hollywood characters who seems to typecast herself. Excellent review! Thank you for sharing.
She yells at strangers in an elevator for laughing in Polish.
They were NOT speaking Polish, they spoke GERMAN.
So I kinda understand her reaction.
They were talking about getting saluted.
The other thing is she grew up amarican. And I (as German) came to understand that most American are most of the time very conservative about sexuality.
I was hoping to find out if she claimed her right about the reality?
Excellent piece. I'm wondering what you'll think of Jesse Eisenberg's A REAL PAIN, which is not about an intergenerational journey but by two very different cousins. https://notthatrobthomas.substack.com/p/sundance-film-festival-handling-the
I saw a preview for "Handling the Dead"! After reading your review I really want to see it.
A Real Pain is next. Thank you!