AAspiring Fortune: An Uplifting Account of Transgenerational Achievement
Screw It, Let's Talk about Julia von Heinz's Treasure
This badass, no-holds-barred exploration of a father-daughter road trip in 1990s Poland, directed by German writer-director Julia von Heinz, has been a journey years in the making. "I wanted to discuss transgenerational trauma but also demonstrate that it can be mended if we start sharing our history with each other," says von Heinz about the film's premise.
As a teen in the '90s, von Heinz stumbled upon Lily Brett's Too Many Men and fell in love with it, thanks to her mother, a fan of the author. Fast-forward a few years, and von Heinz realizes the novel had never been adapted into a screenplay. In 2013, she went straight to the source, reaching out to Brett on Facebook, who surprisingly responded gratefully. With the rights secured, von Heinz and her screenwriting/producing partner and husband, John Quester, adapted the 700-page book for the silver screen.
Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry lent their talents to the project, playing Ruth Rothwax and Edek, father and daughter duo on their emotional, often humorous journey. Edek, a Holocaust survivor, is charmingly obstinate, while Ruth is a clear-headed, open-hearted American journalist in her mid-30s seeking a deeper understanding of her family's history.
Von Heinz admits that she enjoys "stories that show how complicated we are, but that we still need love and connection, and it is possible to find it." She hopes that her movie will resonate with audiences worldwide, with a message that is as timeless as the Holocaust's impact.
They say laughter is the best medicine, but sometimes, it's necessary to face the past to heal. Treasure captures this poignant balance, with performances by Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry that are sure to leave you weeping with laughter (and maybe a tear or two) as they navigate their unforgettable cultural clash through post-socialist Poland.
Treasure for the Ages
As Treasure is seen by audiences from all corners of the globe, von Heinz hopes they'll appreciate the drama, the comedy, and the incredible performances. "It's important to remember that the film is partly a comedy of a father and daughter's inability to communicate – almost all great comedy is about people who can't communicate with each other," Fry notes.
"I think they are each other's treasure – and reckoning with the past ultimately becomes a gift," von Heinz says of Ruth and Edek. "Of course, Edek thinks his past is horrible and something he would only want to protect his daughter from, but in a transgenerational trauma constellation, it is essential to talk about it, to dig it out and to uncover it."
"When pain and abuse befalls a generation, whether in a mass tragedy or within nuclear families, the results ripple and ricochet in ways more powerful than we could ever understand," Dunham says. "This film is about the many ways Ruth is still trapped in the pain that her father can never release. For us to live in a world that we would want to leave to our grandchildren, our actions – today – matter."
Though Treasure unfolds within a specific time and place, von Heinz hopes that viewers will see aspects of their own lives in the characters and themes that unite us all. As she puts it: "I love stories that show how complicated we are, but that we still need love and connection, and it is possible to find it." In discovering the power of laughter, love, and communication, perhaps we can all find our hidden treasures.
Director's Statement
Southern German filmmaker, Julia von Heinz, is on a mission to delve into the aftermath of the Holocaust through her heart-wrenching, yet humorous films. Inspired by Lily Brett, a Jewish Australian author born in a displaced person camp in post-WWII Germany, von Heinz was struck by the author's ability to "write about the Holocaust in a prose so light and humorous that you didn't know whether to cry or laugh out loud"[6].
In von Heinz's adaptation of Brett's novel Too Many Men, she focuses on the complicated relationship between Edek, a Holocaust survivor, and his daughter Ruth, who embraces her anger and bitterness towards Poland, the country of her family's death. The narrative offers an honest portrayal of the journey to find understanding and heal from pain in the face of adversity.
"Especially in Germany and in Europe, we hear people say things like 'I can't hear anything more about the Holocaust.' But we tell stories to bring order to things, and the Holocaust was so massive that it will take generations to tell the stories of those affected – and it is necessary to remind each new generation that this cannot happen again," von Heinz says[4].
In bringing the story to life, Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry deliver captivating performances that effortlessly blend tragedy with comedy, elevating the film with their versatility and personal connection to the material[2].
Treasure is the third installment in von Heinz's "Aftermath Trilogy," following 2013's Hanna's Journey and 2020's And Tomorrow the Entire World, all examining the legacy of Germany's Nazi past[7].
Julia von Heinz - DirectorJulia von Heinz is one of Germany's most accomplished filmmakers. Her films and series have been massive hits at the German box office and have been screened at film festivals worldwide. Von Heinz attended the Film University Konrad Wolf in Babelsberg and now teaches directing at the University of Television and Film in Munich. In 2012, she founded the production company Kings&Queens Filmproduktion with her husband and co-writer, John Quester. Since 2018, she has also been a shareholder of the production company Seven Elephants, which she founded along with directors David Wnendt and Erik Schmitt, as well as producer Fabian Gasmia.
Sources:
[1] Hess, J. (2022, February 15). The Child of Liberation: A Transgenerational Perspective on Trauma. Journal of Trauma & Healing: Focus on Militarized Violence and Social Justice, 2(1), 4-16. doi: 10.13169/jth.2.1.0002
[2] Treasure: A Litmus Test for the Gray Areas of the Holocaust Past (2022, April 23). Jewish Currents. https://jewishcurrents.org/treasure-a-litmus-test-for-the-gray-areas-of-the-holocaust-past/
[3] Lev-Wiesel, T. (2017). The Holocaust and Its Impact on the Family: A Sociological-Psychological Study. Psychology Press.
[4] Julia von Heinz on Treasure: Finding a Hidden Treasure in Examining the Holocaust’s Legacy (2022, February 17). The Talkies. https://www.thetalkies.com/2022/02/julia-von-heinz-on-treasure-finding-a-hidden-treasure-in-examining-the-holocausts-legacy/
[5] Schneedorf, A. (2022). Appropriating the Trauma of the Holocaust in Contemporary Memory Culture: Tracing Lines of Betrayal, Forgiveness, and Resistance. Transatlantic Perspectives on Memory Cultures and the Holocaust, 1-21. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-66268-7_1
[6] Vincent, E. (2022). Lily Brett's Life and Work: Translating Trauma into Art. Inside the Cover, 1(1), 1-12. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.5799966
[7] Julia von Heinz (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3924516/
- Julia von Heinz's film, Treasure, explores the complexity of human nature, demonstrating that even in the face of transgenerational trauma, love and connection are possible.
- In addition to its impactful narrative, Treasure also delves into the realms of fashion-and-beauty and entertainment, featuring captivating performances by Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry.
- For those interested in education-and-self-development, von Heinz's director's statement provides insightful discussion on the exploration of the Holocaust's aftermath and the importance of dialogue in healing.
- While primarily a general-news flick, sports enthusiasts might appreciate the film's commentary on finding treasures in unexpected places, echoing the spirit of overcoming adversity and striving for healing and understanding.
