German Film "Doitscha" Explores Jewish Life Post-October 7

The film "Doitscha - Alles geht vorüber" (Doitscha - Everything Passes) by director Ester Amrami examines the altered lives of Jews in Germany following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and the identity conflicts that strain even close family ties. Inspired by a novel by Adriana Altaras, the film, co-written by Amrami and her German husband Momme Peters, centers on a family grappling with differing identities, fears, and life choices: a Jewish mother, a non-Jewish father, and their two sons.

Central to the tragicomedy are the intense clashes between Georg and his older son David. David, dreaming of immigrating to Israel, mockingly calls his father "Doitscha," a jab at his perceived German pedantry. Their arguments sometimes escalate to physical altercations. The mother, Adriana, who runs a Jewish theater in Cologne, struggles to mediate but finds her efforts increasingly strained. After a notable talk show appearance, she is invited to give a speech on the anniversary of the 1938 pogroms, but finds herself entangled in conflicting identities and perspectives while searching for the right words.

The film also addresses the delicate line between legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and antisemitism. Adriana, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, reacts strongly to stereotypical questions on a talk show, challenging the host's query about her "half Jewish, half German" sons. A subsequent argument with an influencer about Israel leads to a public rupture. At her own theater, Adriana's advocacy for liberal values leads to absurd situations, such as a reading by a government-critical Israeli author being drowned out by pro-Palestinian protesters chanting "Free Palestine," preventing the author from speaking.

Despite the conflicts, the presence of David's godfather Aron Schuster and his eccentric Aunt Jele provides moments of humor. Director Amrami noted that the blend of humor and pain in Altaras's original work was particularly appealing, describing it as a "rare voice" in Germany that combats suffering with wit, allowing the film to maintain a lightness despite its heavy themes. Amrami also aimed to portray Jewish characters as ordinary people with everyday conflicts, rather than in a "folkloristic" manner, a rarity in German television.

Amrami and Peters revealed that the events of October 7 necessitated a complete reorientation of the script. The film depicts a new intolerance from both the left and the right, challenging Adriana's liberal worldview. Amrami, an Israeli living in Germany for 20 years, stated that "much has changed since October 7," making a nuanced understanding of the Middle East conflict impossible due to the highly emotionalized debate. In this new reality, Jews are repeatedly confronted with and reduced to the topic of Israel, even if they are critical of the current Israeli government. The film symbolizes this new, threatening reality for Jews in Germany through the recurring appearance of a raven outside Adriana's window, which Amrami calls a "warning to our society."

"Doitscha - Alles geht vorüber" is available in the ARD media library starting October 30 and will be broadcast on ARD (Das Erste) on November 4 at 8:15 PM. It is also part of the Film Festival Cologne program from October 29 to November 5.