One of the biographies featured in the exhibition Von hier aus, is entrepreneur Julius Klausner. He owned the Leiser shoe stores until, under pressure from the Nazis, he was forced to sell it and flee Germany. To accompany the exhibition, we are screening the acclaimed documentary film "The European Dream" by Klausner’s granddaughter Mooly Landesman.
The European Dream unravels a gripping journey into the shadows of history, as two grandchildren and a German lawyer embark on a mission to reclaim stolen art from the Nazi era. Propelled by a letter that lists invaluable artworks looted during World War II, they plunge into the vibrant and resilient Jewish community of Berlin. There, they unearth the shattered dreams of their grandfathers, Julius Klausner and Robert Graetz, German Jews who once envisioned a society where cultural and social integration could thrive.
The film poignantly captures their struggle against bureaucratic obstacles, auction houses bound by confidentiality laws, and individuals who hide behind statutes of limitations, all hindering the restoration of these priceless artworks to their rightful heirs.
With scenes that weave together meticulous provenance research and the heart-wrenching legacy of stolen family treasures, The European Dream exposes the ongoing battle for justice in a world still haunted by its past.
After the screening: talk with director Mooly Landesman
The European Dream: documentary film by Mooly Landesman
Israel 2025, 75 min, multilingual with English subtitles
The film premiered at the Haifa International Film Festival and was part of festivals such as the Miami Jewish Film Festival, the SERET film festivals in Argentina, Chile and Berlin, at Kunsthaus Basel, the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival in Ohio and many more.