Watch Back To The Fatherland

Back To The Fatherland is a documentary film that explores the lives of young Israelis who decide to move to Germany and Austria while dealing with their family's past. The film follows the lives of two young women - Gil Levanon, a former Israeli army officer, and Katharina Maschek, a descendant of a high-ranking Nazi family. The director, Kat Rohrer, herself a former resident of both Israel and Austria, provides insights into how these young people reconcile with their family histories and personal identities.

The documentary delves deep into the emotions, perceptions and beliefs of the protagonists, while also addressing the larger issue of the relationship between Israelis and Germans after the Holocaust. The filmmakers document the tension and confusion that many Israelis feel about living in a country that was responsible for the murder of six million Jews. The film also shows how many young Germans, like Maschek, feel a sense of guilt and responsibility towards the Holocaust and its victims, despite being born several decades after the war.

The film begins with the story of Gil, who is a professional fencer and a former member of the Israeli national team. She decides to move to Vienna to pursue her fencing career and to be with her Austrian boyfriend. However, she soon discovers that living in Vienna is not as easy as she thought. The scenes in which Gil talks to her grandmother about her decision to move to Austria and about her family's past are particularly emotional. Gil's grandmother is a survivor of the Holocaust and her mother's family was murdered in Auschwitz. She is skeptical about Gil's decision to move to Austria and worries that her granddaughter may be repeating the mistakes of her family's past.

Katharina Maschek is the other protagonist of the film. She is the great-niece of Heinrich Himmler, one of the masterminds of the Nazi regime. Despite being born decades after the war, Katharina struggles with her family's past and her identity as a German. The scenes in which she visits the concentration camp in Dachau and meets with a Holocaust survivor are particularly powerful. Katharina's story is a reminder that the legacy of the Holocaust is still felt in Germany, and that young Germans are still grappling with their country's past.

The film also shows how the relationship between Israelis and Germans has evolved over the years. The scenes in which Gil and her boyfriend visit Berlin are particularly illuminating. They visit the Holocaust Memorial and the Jewish Museum, and reflect on how Germans are now more accepting of their past and committed to acknowledging and understanding the horrors of the Holocaust. The film also shows how many young Germans are embracing their country's responsibility towards the Holocaust by volunteering in Holocaust education programs and initiatives to combat antisemitism.

The cinematography of Back To The Fatherland is stunning. The film is shot on location in Israel, Austria, and Germany, and the landscapes and architecture of these countries are beautifully captured. The filmmakers also use archival footage and photos to provide historical context and insight into the stories of the protagonists.

Overall, Back To The Fatherland is a moving and insightful documentary that explores the complex relationship between Israelis and Germans after the Holocaust. The film is a reminder that the legacy of the Holocaust is still felt today, and that young people are still grappling with their family histories and identities. The film also shows how Israelis and Germans are learning from each other and moving towards a shared future. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in history, identity, and reconciliation.

Back To The Fatherland is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9 and a MetaScore of 36.