The Flat

The title of this award-winning Israeli documentary refers to the Tel Aviv apartment of filmmaker Arnon Goldfinger's German-born grandmother Gerda, who died at the age of 98. As Goldfinger goes through Gerda's belongings, he discovers a surplus of merchandise—shoes, books, mink stoles—that suggest Gerda lived a comfortable if perhaps unremarkable life. But a few items seem peculiar: a coin with the Nazi swastika on one side and a Star of David on the other, and a newspaper clipping about the presence of a high-ranking Nazi officer in 1933 Palestine. Goldfinger's mother Hannah does not appear too eager to help the filmmaker, but he eventually begins to uncover a family secret about a bizarre friendship between Gerda and her husband and Leopold von Mildenstein, a high-ranking SS official. Even more surprising is the fact that this friendship continued for years after the end of WWII and the creation of the state of Israel. Needless to say, Goldfinger's discoveries lead to an amazing real-life story as he dissects family secrets and digs up painful and often embarrassing truths. Telling a tale that is more astonishing than many Hollywood mysteries, this is recommended. [Note: this is also available with public performance rights for $115 for public libraries and $300 for colleges & universities from Ruth Diskin Films, www.ruthfilms.com.] Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)