Me at the Museum (narrative)
About the Director
Dylan Silver is a first-generation American writer-director and actor. She was a 2022 Director Mentee with Women In Film and a 2022 Sundance Lab Fellow. Her directorial debut, A Mind Like Still Water, premiered on Amazon’s ‘Top 5 Must Watch’ list. Her short film Hype Man: A Break Beat Film debuted at the NY Hip Hop Film Festival, Soul Survivor premiered at the HollyShorts Film Festival and her latest project Home Sweet Home, is currently in festival consideration. In addition to her films, Silver directs music videos for her band, NICE BOAT. Many of her scripts, including her feature from the Sundance Labs, focus on authentic and untold stories that portray modern-day Jewish characters. She loves capturing vulnerable, heartfelt moments, and finding humor where you least expect it. For scripts or examples of her recent work, please feel free to reach out.
Synopsis
Every visit to her grandmother Dvora’s senior home feels tedious for teenager Yael—until a school trip to the Holocaust Museum changes everything. There, she finds a letter that transports her into Dvora’s vibrant teenage life in 1930s Europe. As Yael experiences Dvora’s youthful spirit amid impending darkness, she gains a deeper understanding of her grandmother. This journey helps bridge their language gap and sparks a new chapter in their relationship, filled with curiosity and connection.
Director’s Statement
As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I often struggled to connect with my grandparents. Their harrowing experiences felt distant and inaccessible until my visit to Auschwitz. At the camp, I discovered a tradition where survivors send letters to their descendants, sharing their memories. While many recount the horrors of the Holocaust, my grandmother wrote about her life before the war: enjoying hot chocolate breakfasts and Friday night dances. That letter transported me from the cold, stark reality of the camp into her vibrant life in Poland, allowing me to see her beyond the label of “survivor” and recognize myself in her.
“Me at the Museum” was inspired by this profound moment. It invites audiences to share in that revelation, transforming history into a personal, relatable experience. In today’s world, connecting younger generations to Jewish history through meaningful storytelling is essential. Too often, Holocaust narratives can feel distant or ‘othering.’ That letter taught me how to present stories that engage viewers as active participants in the lives of real people. I love films that invite viewers on an immersive journey and engage with heightened realities. I’m drawn to quiet, transformative moments that happen mostly inside our minds yet bind our shared humanity. It has been an honor to develop this piece, share it with Claims Conference and work towards bringing “Me at the Museum” to life.