In the aftermath of the Second World War, Boris Green moved from Belarus to Australia, that much is clear. And yet the process of retracing his life story soon evolves into a crime thriller, raising more and more questions. His sons begin to doubt the veracity of their father's stories. Was he part of a group of Jews that hunted for Nazis in hiding?
At the beginning it's nothing more than conjecture: Did the man, one who built a middle-class existence for himself as a watch and jewellery dealer, turn to his experience of guerrilla warfare as a means of exercising vigilante justice and eliminating war criminals from the Baltics? When their own investigations appear to have reached a dead end, his sons employ the services of a detective who time and again uncovers new leads and sources of information.
In this montage of encounters and historical footage Danny Ben-Moshe reconstructs the life story of a man who was anything but an open book. In the process however more than a remarkable chapter of Jewish history is reconstructed, as fundamental questions are posed: Were perpetrators protected by secret services in the post-war period? Can vigilantism be justified when the justice system fails? And can revenge ever bring about historical justice?
Text: Rainer Mende
English: Peter Rickerby
Following the screenings on Wed, 19.6., 18:00 at Bundeplatz Kino, there will be a Q&A with director Danny Ben-Moshe and Nehama Grenimann Bauch, granddaughter of Boris Green.
On Thur, 20.6., 19:00 and Sa, 22.6., 20:15 at Kino Moviemento director Danny Ben-Moshe will also be present for a Q&A after the film.
Credits
original title Revenge: Our Dad The Nazi Killer
international title Revenge: Our Dad The Nazi Killer
german title Revenge: Our Dad The Nazi Killer
JFBB section Documentary Film Competition
country/countries AU
year 2023
duration 97
Danny Ben-Moshe
BIO Award-winning producer and director, Danny Ben-Moshe is one of Australia’s foremost filmmakers whose work is known globally. His acclaimed films have screened on leading networks around the world, including multiple prime time documentaries for the ABC and SBS in Australia where is based.
His films have also featured on networks globally from PBS in America (OUTBACK RABBIS, 2018), SVT in Europe and NHK in Asia (CHINA’S ARTFUL DISSIDENT, 2019). For BBC Storyville Danny made the high rating MY MOTHER’S LOST CHILDREN
(2017), an epic family saga told across five continents and six decades about a family thrown into turmoil after 2 children reappear after 40 years, which was reviewed as Critics Choice in The Sunday Times and “a breath of fresh air” by New Statesman. Danny won Australia’s top documentary prize, the Walkley Award, for his CODE OF SILENCE film which lifted the lid on sex abuse in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.
Danny’s other feature length documentaries include CARNABY STREET UNDRESSED (Yesterday Channel, 2011) which had a four star review in Time Out, and SHALOM BOLLYWOOD: THE UNTOLD STORY OF INDIAN CINEMA which premiered at the
Mumbai Film Festival (2017) and was reviewed by the Hollywood Reporter as “lively, upbeat and entertaining”.