Inheritance

Inheritance is a 2006 documentary film, expertly crafted by filmmaker James Moll. In this gripping narrative, the main players are not professional actors but people dealing with a real-life situation that has both personal and historical ramifications. The starring individuals are Vivian Delman, Monika Hertwig, and Reinhardt Hertwig, but this isn't your average star-studded Hollywood production. It's a raw, remarkably real jaw-dropper that takes its audience into the depths of human emotions, morality and the complexities of inheritance - laboured with the burdens of the past.

The theme of Inheritance is anchored in the lasting scars of World War II, a time of great political turmoil and human suffering. The documentary connects the dots between the horrifying acts committed during these years to the people living in the shadow of these atrocities, especially those directly related to the perpetrators. The film delves into the lives of two women, Vivian Delman, a survivor of the Holocaust, and Monika Hertwig, the daughter of mass murderer Amon Goth, commandant of the Plaszow concentration camp.

Throughout her life, Delman has braved the terror of Goth's reign during her captivity at the Plaszow concentration camp. The harsh realities she had to endure and the traumatic memories she had no choice but to carry form a significant part of her personhood today. Yet despite the monstrosities of the past, Vivian showcases tremendous resilience as she sets out to share her experiences with the world, one interaction at a time.

In a stark contrast, Monika Hertwig grapples with the weighty legacy of her father's shameful past. As the daughter of a war criminal, she must confront the disturbing truths about her father, a man she barely knew, yet whose actions have had far-reaching consequences. Tormented by the duality of her father's persona - the man she knew at home and the monster depicted in historical accounts - Monika's journey is a complex, emotional exploration of identity, culpability, and inherited shame.

Inheritance is a moving portrait of these two women who come from completely different backgrounds but share a horrific, historical connection.

The documentary reaches its climax when the paths of these women dramatically cross. Moll is able to capture the tension, the emotional peaks, and valleys in a way that is profoundly heartrending and stunningly real. This encounter, which forms the backbone of the film, offers a different perspective on history, personalising the narratives for both women.

Complementing the narrative, the filmmakers effectively use archival film clips and photographs to bring alive the horrors of the past. The juxtaposition of past and present, horror and normality, guilt and innocence, victim and perpetrator’s daughter provides an all-encompassing viewpoint to the viewers. Moll interweaves personal testimonies with historical material, drawing the audience into an engaging narrative that delivers a profound commentary on the nature of guilt, responsibility, reconciliation and personal identity in the face of unspeakable crimes.

The arrangement of the documentary keeps the viewer on edge, with turns and twists that would engage even those not typically drawn to historical narratives. The film seeks to remind us that the wounds of past atrocities do not fade easily, they continue to burden the future generations who must grapple with the fallout long after the events have transpired.

Inheritance shows that historical horrors such as the Holocaust are experienced in deeply personal and lingering ways, not just by the survivors but by the descendants of the oppressors. The burden of legacy is a central motif that is intimately explored, striking a balance between understanding and empathy without absolving the monstrosities.

Moll navigates the unsettling narrative with exceptional sensitivity, avoiding shock tactics and overt melodrama. His approach is understated, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions and engage with the obscenities of history on their own terms.

Inheritance is an emotionally charged exploration of an overlooked aspect of Holocaust history. A story of two women tied together by a horrific past, dealing with guilt and survival, it's a painstaking, haunting journey into the heart of darkness with a ray of hope that people, despite everything, have the capacity to confront their history, however terrifying it may be. While it may be a historical documentary by definition, it comes across as an intensely personal narrative about identity, memory, legacy, and the possibility of reconciliation amid unfathomable disparity.