Grandfather Puzzle (documentary)
About the Director
Ora DeKornfeld is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, and editor whose work explores ecotones—the rich, complex spaces between distinct realms—from intersectional identities to moral grey zones. Her films reveal these in-between spaces as fertile ground for understanding the human experience and have been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, CNN, and Netflix. DeKornfeld’s Emmy-nominated short USA V SCOTT premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and was acquired by The New Yorker. Her New York Times Opinion video, THIS IS WHAT A POST-ROE ABORTION LOOKS LIKE, received an Emmy nomination in 2023. She directed episodes of Netflix’s EXPLAINED series and worked on MIJA, which premiered at Sundance, was acquired by Disney+, and earned IDA and Independent Spirit Award nominations. Her work has also been recognized by Picture of the Year International, The Webby Awards, and SXSW Film Festival.
Synopsis
My grandfather, a 100-year-old Holocaust survivor and renowned anesthesiologist, has mastered the art of easing others’ pain while keeping his own emotions locked away. As he reaches his centennial, I embark on a journey to bridge the silence that defines our relationship, using his passion for jigsaw puzzles as our conduit.
Retracing his harrowing escape from Nazi-occupied Hungary, I’ll capture images of pivotal locations and transform them into custom puzzles. As we assemble these pieces of his past together, will this unique approach unlock his long-suppressed memories and emotions? Or will our shared task reveal the shape of what remains unsaid – the negative space that holds the essence of his untold story?
Director’s Statement
My grandfather, now 100 years old, is the sole surviving family member with firsthand experience of our pre-war history. His centennial, set against a backdrop of resurgent global conflicts, has underscored the urgency of preserving his unique narrative before it’s lost to time.
As a 33-year-old documentary filmmaker constantly on the move, I often feel unrooted, grappling with questions of belonging and family. By exploring my past, I hope to illuminate pathways for creating my own sense of family and belonging—a journey that begins with unraveling my grandfather’s untold story.
Ultimately, this film is a deeply personal yet universally resonant exploration. It’s about mapping the contours of absence, exploring what is through what is not, and understanding how unspoken experiences echo through time. By assembling the available pieces, I aim to reveal the shape of what’s missing—illuminating the powerful impact of inherited voids on our collective memory and identity. Through this process, I hope to gain clarity not only on my past but also on my future, my sense of belonging, and how I can approach identity and family in my own life.