THE LAST GOLDFISH
2017, 80 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Su Goldfish.
This is an arresting Australian documentary.
Su Goldfish, has explored her origins, finding a lot of film footage and photos from the past, especially from her photographer father. But his background has been a mystery to her.
She knows that her father came from Germany, a refugee from World War II. He finished in Trinidad where he met his wife after the war, marrying, his daughter being born. He seemed to have prospered, especially with music at the time in the West Indies. However, with moves towards independence, he moved his family to Australia, living there for many years.
Su Goldfish herself led a rather flamboyant life, involved in the arts, in gay and lesbian activities, finding her partner, working in filmmaking.
The film is interesting in her exploration, her discovery that her father was married in Germany, had a family, and taken his wife and son to Trinidad and divorced there. His ex-wife and children moved to Canada. Gradually, Su gets more information, travels to Germany, finds places that correspond to the photos in the collection, discovers identity of family members. She also communicates with the family in Canada, eventually meeting some of them and visiting Canada.
For Su, this is fulfilling, knowing more about her father, filling a sense of belonging with an extended family. At the end, she discovers more family connections, members who have changed their names.
This kind of family exploration is a rich source for documentary filmmakers, exploring the past while throwing light on contemporary situations – something which director Sophia Turkewiecz achieved with her documentary about her mother, Once Her Mother (2013).
1. A personal documentary? A family story? Jewish story, the Holocaust? Jews in the 20th century?
2. Su Goldfish, her quest, her films? The use of photos? Video? The visits to Germany, Canada, Trinidad? Her quest in Australia? The visual impact of the photos, the interviews? Editing and pace? The emphasis on audio? The musical score?
3. The title, Su and her family, discovering her past, the investigation, family and name changes?
4. Manfred Goldfish as the focus, an agreeable man, adaptable, yet with secrets, his wife and their 48 years together, meeting in Trinidad, moving to Australia? The birth of Su, leaving Trinidad? The interviews with Manfred in his old age, the photos, his having written stories?
5. Su and her perspective, the background of Germany and her father, Port of Spain, Trinidad? Meeting his wife, her British background? The birth of the daughter? His work in Trinidad, the music and the art world? The uprisings anti-white? Migration to Australia, at home, Sydney, jobs, Su and at school, her accent, Jewish girls?
6. The true story of her father, the revelation about his parents, the cutlery from the hotel, tracking down the hotel, the photos? The mysterious aunt, revealed as grand aunt? His having a camera from a young age, his travel with his friends, to Italy? The friendship with the Olympic jumper? Marthe, meeting her, marriage, his arrest and the story, Marthe saving him, the birth of Harry, interned, the birth of the daughter, getting out of Germany, going to Trinidad? The camps, the Caribbean and the British? Anti-Semitic? stances? Hardships on the family, leading to the divorce? Harry and his book, his nervous state, not replying to Su’s letter? His sister still alive, the contact, the visits? Harry’s son, Gerald, and contact?
7. Su’s discovery after her father’s death of his papers, the letters, his knowing the addresses, his not wanting to live in the past, yet depriving Su of her heritage?
8. The contacts from Canada, sibling visiting, meeting the family, revealing the stories, the joy for Su with having a family, her alienating her parents during her growing up, school, studies, protests, Lesbian partnership? Her work for the gay and lesbian parade? The place of her partner?
9. Her quest, going to Trinidad, meeting old friend Wendy, enjoying the music and the food?
10. The quest to Germany, to Cologne, her father’s photos, identifying the hotel through the story of the flood? The grand aunt? The locations in Cologne where photos were taken? Going to Ulm? The town and the records, the book and the references to Su’s family, going to the launch, her speech, the German passport, the stone in the message, under the memento stone in the street?
11. The seeming end to the quest? The search for more Goldfish members? Brooklyn, the relation, changing his name to Herbert and its being misspelt? The revelation of the wider family, Su meeting them?
12. Su, in her 50s, the 40 year search, the truth about her family, her heritage – and meeting her family and fulfilment?
