Dreams for a Better Past

Albert Kuhn uses a personal, analytical, and cinematic lens to examine how an untold family history leaves its mark on the second and third generations. Kuhn’s father emigrated from Germany to Barcelona in the 1970s, leaving behind his native country and the family he was born into.

His father, a man of few words, reveals nothing about his background. In the absence of words, Kuhn searches for answers in images. All he has to go on are a few home videos of visits to his grandparents in Germany and a small stack of letters that his grandparents exchanged during the Second World War conveying little except that all is well.

Kuhn analyzes these archival materials, seeks out additional documentation, and attempts to interview his father. He hopes to learn more about the future as well as his past, because “Everything unsaid finds a way to travel in silence.” With this multi-stranded approach, Kuhn intertwines his personal quest with a broader story about trans-generational pain and guilt.