When Lena Dunham first learn the script for Julia von Heinz’s “Treasure,” it hit residence.
The “Ladies” creator’s grandmother had simply died at 96, and Dunham discovered herself considering so much about her heritage. “Treasure,” primarily based on the 1999 novel “Too Many Males” by Lily Brett, follows Ruth (Dunham), a journalist who travels to Poland together with her Holocaust survivor father (Stephen Fry) to confront their household’s tragic previous. Not solely did Dunham conform to star within the movie, however her manufacturing firm, Good Factor Going, signed on as nicely.
Each Dunham and her producing companion, Michael P. Cohen, are Jewish and located the story “extremely resonant for each of our households,” Dunham tells Selection at Berlin Movie Competition, the place “Treasure” debuts on Saturday night time.
“We each checked out one another after we learn the script and went like, ‘That is one thing we’re going to be proud to inform our youngsters that we made. That is one thing we’d be proud to inform our grandparents,’” Dunham says. “Michael’s grandmother already watched it, and I’m like, ‘If Nan preferred it, that’s sufficient for me.’ She gave a raving textual content assessment and I used to be like, ‘Nan can textual content?’”
“‘Ladies’ may not have been for Nan,” Cohen interjects as Dunham laughs.
“It was fascinating as a result of my grandmother, she was on the premiere of the primary season of ‘Ladies,’ and I don’t suppose she beloved it,” Dunham recollects. “I believe she was excited as a result of she thought, ‘Wow, Lena will get to put on so many fairly attire.’ However I beloved considering that [‘Treasure’] can be one which she [would enjoy] … It’s been very particular and emotional to point out it to the members of my household who’re nonetheless round.”
Under, Dunham discusses the timeliness of “Treasure,” the latest “Ladies” renaissance and what to anticipate from her new Netflix present.
Inform me a bit about working with Fry. How did you forge that father-daughter bond?
Once I despatched the primary image of us collectively in costume to my mother, she was like, “Oh my god, I really feel like now we all know who your actual dad is.” And he occurs to be a homosexual cultural icon from one other nation. However who is aware of, it may occur!
Actually, we didn’t have lots of time in prep collectively. Stephen was studying Polish, which was intensive, and I used to be in a writers room for the present I’m on now. So we had met as soon as, after which we went to Poland. However I believe there was one thing about being the 2 native English audio system on this set — we simply dove in with one another. We principally talked from morning to nighttime each single day. There have been even moments the place he can be like, “It’s important to get off your cellphone,” irritated with me like a dad can be. But additionally there’s an unimaginable bond as two Jewish individuals going to those locations. Our first day collectively was on the largest Jewish cemetery on the earth in Poland, which holds the graves of many non-survivors and survivor’s relations. After which, every place we went held extra keys to elements of our id that we didn’t perceive. And so that have bonds you in a short time.
Had you been to Poland earlier than filming “Treasure”?
I had been to Poland as soon as in school, and it was very a lot a journey to drink alcohol with boys, not a journey to search out my id. And truly, at that time I didn’t even know — my grandmother had at all times stated that we had been Hungarian, when in reality Hungary is the place the one surviving member of our household moved. All of our household, together with my great-grandmother, come from Poland truly about 15 miles from the place we had been capturing. So on this journey, it had a complete new resonance — and in addition on this journey I used to be a sober, working grownup who was eager about metabolizing these experiences.
It was unattainable to overstate how highly effective it’s, significantly to go to Auschwitz, to expertise the place, to know that there’s additionally only a city of individuals residing round that historical past. We give it some thought as this terrifying relic, when truly there’s a terrifying relic surrounded by individuals persevering with to dwell their lives. I believe a extremely vital movie that got here out this yr is “The Zone of Curiosity” — they shot lower than 4 miles from the place we had been and we had lots of the identical crew members. So it was actually fascinating for me to observe that and perceive that, as all the issues that had been befalling Stephen’s character had been taking place, there was this different actuality of people that had been simply residing and ignoring. It has such a lesson to show us, which is we can’t proceed to show our heads away after we see wrongdoing. We’ve got to stay vigilant in holding on to our humanity.
Stephen Fry and Lena Dunham in “Treasure.”
Deliberately or not, it’s definitely a really well timed movie with the present battle within the Center East. What do you hope individuals take away from it?
It’s an odd factor, as a result of Julia’s been making an attempt to make this film for over a decade. However my hope is that it may power us to look again at this horrific occasion in a deep means that continues our mission to by no means let one thing like that ever occur once more — to Jewish individuals, or to anybody. One thing that I really like about storytelling is that once you be taught somebody’s story, their trauma, their reality, it’s unattainable to not empathize with them. It’s the identical once they say that an enormous share of People suppose they don’t know a trans individual, however as soon as they do their notion of that will change. And so I hope that it is a film that reaches individuals who might have distorted perceptions about what it’s to be a Jewish individual, and I additionally hope that it encourages a message of actually, actually robust opposition to any type of racism, xenophobia or hatred.
I’ve to ask about your upcoming Netflix collection, “Too A lot,” starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe. As somebody who moved from the U.S. to London after a breakup, identical to the plot of the present, I couldn’t be extra excited. What can followers anticipate?
You’re actually our target market. We’re going for the girlies who pulled a geographic after a breakup. We’ve been capturing for 3 weeks and it’s been an incredible expertise. I imply, Megan Stalter is a pleasure and a pleasure and Will Sharpe is a complete genius and we’ve an incredible solid lined up that we’ll announce quickly. I’m positive you’ve skilled the truth that English and American individuals converse the identical language, and but there’s so many completely unusual gaps in how we determine. After which additionally, I simply love a lady in disaster getting what she deserves within the great way. And in order that’s what we’re going for with that present. Additionally, talking of this time on the earth, making an attempt to make one thing that’s loving and joyful and nonetheless hopefully sharp and incisive and all of the naughty scenes that persons are used to from me, however with a sort of underlying, underpinned message of affection and hope.
It appears like everybody’s been rewatching “Ladies” this yr, and new generations are discovering it. What does it imply to you that persons are nonetheless loving the present?
It’s loopy and wild and never one thing I anticipated. The solid and I, after we get despatched a humorous meme by somebody, we’re sharing them. I’m going to be 38 in Could; I began scripting this present after I was 23. I felt like, “If I make a pilot, wow, what a life expertise.” So the truth that there’s anybody — I imply, persons are nonetheless watching a present that got here out earlier than Instagram was invented?! What the heck? So to anybody who’s main the revival: I see your TikTok mashups. I really feel grateful for them, although I’m technologically incompetent and not likely on Instagram. I’m getting the love and it’s very felt and appreciated.
Did you see the clip of Marnie (Allison Williams) singing “Quick Automobile” within the ultimate season resurfacing after Tracy Chapman’s Grammys efficiency?
I really like that Allison would always say after we had been capturing “Ladies,” “Oh my god, are you actually going to make me sing this? That is so embarrassing.” And I’d be like, “It’s not going to be a giant deal.” After which these are the issues that develop into memes for the following 20 years. So I’m sorry, Allison.
Like Marnie’s efficiency of Kanye West’s “Stronger.”
I’ll credit score her for a number of the lyric adjustments in that. We’re very grateful to Allison.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
