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By
DEBORAH NICOL
A German Jewish family must
decide at what point their land of milk and honey,
their home of ancestors past, becomes dangerously
inhospitable and a threat to their livelihood.
Director Caroline Link creates a rich tapestry
from the autobiographical tale of Stephanie Zweig,
whose family chose to emigrate from what was
quickly becoming Nazi territory into a land of
which they knew nothing.
Patriarch Walter (portrayed with much depth by
stage actor Merab Ninidze) bravely chooses to
leave Germany for Kenya at a time when the Nazis
have created difficulties for Jews to maintain
their employment and live without hassles. His
wife, Jettle (played, alternately with frustration
and strength, by Juliane Köhler), however, feels
there is hope yet for a return to normalcy -– that
someone will surely usurp the Nazi regime and
Germany will be whole again. It is therefore
difficult for her to answer the call of a husband
who has gained residency for his family in a
country where they will be alone as outcasts,
ridden from the only place they have ever called
home. As he imparts the seriousness of the
situation in a letter, asking for her to bring
with her important supplies rather than useless
trinkets, she responds by filling a trunk with
fragile china rather than a much needed
refrigerator. And thus begins a difficult period
in their marriage that they could never have
anticipated from the comforts of their lush German
home.
The story is viewed through the eyes of their
young child, Regina (played vibrantly at 4 and 14
respectively by Lea Kurka and Karoline Eckertz),
who acclimates to the land and its people with
ease and enjoyment, as she soon forgets the
country of her birth. Whereas Regina quickly
learns the Swahili language and culture from their
native cook, Owuor (the excellent Sidede Onyulo),
her mother ironically treats the Africans with the
same disdain and lack of respect that she was
treated by the Nazis in Germany. As the family
evolves with their environment, so do their
political views, their personal relationships, and
their desires to return to Germany. This amazing
tale displays true complexities of life, with no
fairytale epiphanies or absolute answers. At a
time when thousands are attempting to survive in
concentration camps, this family must learn to
appreciate their good fortune within their
hardships.
The movie is packaged as two DVDs, the second
containing a great array of subtitled extras,
delving further into this tremendous story.
Included are deleted scenes which can be viewed
with director's commentary, interviews with both
cast and creators, a making-of featurette,
beautiful score selections by Niki Reiser (where
the written music is overlaid on top of the
scene), a photo montage with commentary,
storyboards with commentary, and trailers of
related movies. |
