Poland, a Green Land

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A Tel Aviv shopkeeper embarks on a journey to his parents' Polish birthplace, seeking to understand their complex legacy, but is unprepared for the realities he encounters. Yaakov Fine's practical wife and daughters are puzzled by his decision to leave his successful dress shop for a ten-day trip to Szydowce, his family's ancestral village. Struggling with midlife depression, he is drawn to the stories of his parents' idyllic hometown before 1939, while the horrors that followed remain unspoken. Upon arriving in Krakow, Yaakov enjoys the charming cafes and relaxed atmosphere, a stark contrast to Tel Aviv. His enchanting landlady, Magda, shares her family's tragic history, deepening his connection to the past. However, when he seeks to reclaim desecrated tombstones stolen from the Jewish cemetery, a starkly different Poland emerges, shattering his romanticized view of the town and its people. This confrontation reveals the tragic reality of Jewish life in Poland, both historically and in contemporary times. Through this journey of revelation and reconciliation, the narrative explores the complexities of memory and identity, resonating with powerful universal themes.