©Praherfilm
Documentary (Series) | 2023 | ORF [at] | Family, History, Third Reich / National Socialism | Austria
Main data
| Director | Peter Mahler |
|---|---|
| Production | Praherfilm, ORF - Österreichischer Rundfunk [at] |
Shooting data
| Filming regions | Austria - Vienna, Germany - Berlin, USA |
|---|
Project data
| Length of movie | 52 min |
|---|
Brief synopsis
Viennese filmmaker Peter Maler has a special family history: His grandfather Peter
had to flee from the Nazis because he was Jewish, while his other grandfather
Joachim fought on the side of the Nazis. Peter follows in the footsteps of the two
branches of the family. He visits his half-cousin Maxi in Berlin. Their connection is
their common grandfather Joachim, in Maxi's memory a loving grandpa, but also an
active Nazi. As a result, Peter confronts his relatives in Austria and Germany with the
questions that the family always concealed: How can one grandfather, a sympathetic person, fight on the side of the Nazis? And how can the other grandpa be so lifeaffirming and confident despite having experienced atrocites? During a visit to his Jewish grandfather Peter, who fled to the U.S. as a child during the war, he learns more about his experiences of persecution and starting over in a foreign country.
In addition to conversations and documentary footage, personal photos, letters and
records from both families provide insight into two worlds that could not be more
different.
had to flee from the Nazis because he was Jewish, while his other grandfather
Joachim fought on the side of the Nazis. Peter follows in the footsteps of the two
branches of the family. He visits his half-cousin Maxi in Berlin. Their connection is
their common grandfather Joachim, in Maxi's memory a loving grandpa, but also an
active Nazi. As a result, Peter confronts his relatives in Austria and Germany with the
questions that the family always concealed: How can one grandfather, a sympathetic person, fight on the side of the Nazis? And how can the other grandpa be so lifeaffirming and confident despite having experienced atrocites? During a visit to his Jewish grandfather Peter, who fled to the U.S. as a child during the war, he learns more about his experiences of persecution and starting over in a foreign country.
In addition to conversations and documentary footage, personal photos, letters and
records from both families provide insight into two worlds that could not be more
different.