Treasure - Familie ist ein fremdes Land (Treasure)
Germany/France 2024

Opening 12 Sep 2024

Directed by: Julia von Heinz
Writing credits: Julia von Heinz, John Quester, Lily Brett
Principal actors: Lena Dunham, Stephen Fry, André Hennicke, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Tomasz Wlosok

It’s 1991, and the world is beginning to open up as the Soviet Union slowly crumbles. Ruth (Lena Dunham), a neurotic journalist, uses the opportunity to learn more about the roots of her parents by traveling to Poland where they grew up and met. Her father Edek (Stephen Fry) refuses to let her embark on the trip alone. As a Holocaust survivor, he does not trust her alone in the country that so deeply betrayed and traumatized him. The two embark on a ragtag journey across the country, learning more about each other and uncovering the deep traumas that have long created chasms in their relationship.
Treasure is a touching and heartfelt drama which looks at the generational trauma of the Holocaust and how second-generation survivors sought to find connection with their ancestral homes and the stories of their parents in adulthood. Edek is a warm and friendly character, but clearly frustrates his daughter. He has quirks, like refusing to use the train, which at first bothers his frugal daughter who had already bought tickets; but she soon begins to put the pieces together the more time they spend together. Likewise, although Edek loves his daughter, he does not understand her clear suffering, such as her issues with food and her divorce from a husband he liked. As the two travel further into Poland, they find a deeper connection with one another through not only their new shared experiences, but also upon uncovering long buried stories of love, trauma, and family which had always been missing in their relationship.

Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry both give impressive and believable performances with effective emotional depth. While the script does sometimes meander, the authentic dynamic of the actors manages to overcome any problems and the result is a mainstream tearjerker that shines a light on an oft-overlooked reality of the Holocaust: how the trauma of it continues to live on today in the descendants of its victims. (Rose Finlay)

Second Opinion

It’s February 25, 1991. Ruth (Lena Dunham) is a 36-year-old, single businesswoman from New York. Her Jewish ancestors originated from Poland and that’s where she goes, accompanied by her father Edek (Stephen Fry). They hire a taxi to drive them to their former family home in Łódź, Poland, where they stay in a hotel. Their taxi driver, Stefan (Zbigniew Zamachowski), slowly becomes a member of their group, along with Tadeusz (Tomasz Wiosok), who is their translator for English and Polish. They visit a cemetery, discuss Auschwitz, and visit Edek’s former house. Naturally, another family now lives in this Polish home. Still, Edek can find and take back former family possessions such as a tea pot, cups, a sugar bowl, and spoons. Not surprisingly, Edek attracts the attention of a lady who is also staying at their hotel. The “treasure” appears in the final moments, dug up from the basement of their house.

The title translates to “Family is a Strange Country.” Edek’s nickname for Ruth is Pumpkin, which annoys her. Father and daughter relearn how to spend time together, including sharing memories of their family’s Jewish past and their surroundings. They “hate” the Germans, but love riding around in a Mercedes. Naturally, there are “treasures” in the form of relationships and memories, not just the treasure found in a metal box. The film is based on the 2001 autographical book “Too Many Men” by Lily Brett, based on her own family’s experiences. The end of the film shares a few photos of some of the real people who inspired the story. Treasure premiered 2024 at the Berlinale in Berlin, as well as at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. (Becky Tan)