Film Lens
Inheritance is a documentary that follows Monika Hertwig, the daughter of Amon Göth, the commandant of the Płaszów concentration camp. Monika was only 10 months old when her father was executed for war crimes in 1946. Raised with a distorted view of her father's character, she learns the truth about him as an adult, which leads her to seek answers by visiting the site of the former concentration camp in Płaszów, Poland. There, she meets Holocaust survivor Helen Jonas-Rosenzweig, who was forced to work for Göth and witnessed his brutal actions.
The film captures the emotional encounter between Monika and Helen, highlighting the complexities of their shared history. Monika's quest for understanding her father's legacy and Helen's painful memories of the Holocaust create a powerful narrative about the impact of familial ties and historical atrocities. The documentary was produced by James Moll for PBS and received an Emmy Award in 2009 for its outstanding interview segment.
Why Watch
- •Meet Monika Hertwig, daughter of a notorious war criminal.
- •Find out how a Holocaust survivor confronted her abuser's daughter.
- •See the former Płaszów concentration camp through personal stories.
Did You Know
•Monika Hertwig was only 10 months old when her father was hanged in 1946.
•Amon Göth was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in the 1993 film Schindler's List.
•Helen Jonas-Rosenzweig was forced to work as a maid for Amon Göth.
•Monika first met Helen Jonas-Rosenzweig more than 60 years after Göth's execution.
Perfect For
Holocaust studiesFamily legacyWar crimes history