Documentary on the book, All For You

My name is Tamar Kummel and I’m a filmmaker. I’m currently in production on a documentary about Dena Rueb Romero and her phenomenal book, All for You: A World War II Family Memoir of Love, Separation, and Loss. 

 After her father’s death, Dena accidentally discovered a box of letters at her parents’ home. The letters dated back to 1938. These letters illuminated for Dena her parents’ lives during the war and filled in gaps of information that had haunted her childhood. Dena uses both family documents and unprecedented historical research to flesh out her parents’ moving love story, the growing hostilities toward the German Jewish population, her grandparents’ increasing desperation, and her father’s hard work to help his loved ones escape Nazi Germany.

Her incredibly meticulous, romantic and heartbreaking book blew me (and all others) away because of the exact timeline of each new restriction and the absolute disintegration of the ability for Jews to find their way out of Germany or to safety. I’d never seen such specificity about these. I asked Dena if we could retrace her steps in researching the book, and her family’s journey by going to Germany, the UK (where her mom escaped to, and was later interned in the Isle Of Man), New York City (where her father escaped to) and Hanover, NH where her parents astonishingly reunited after 7 years and started a new life together. 

I thought I knew everything I needed to know about the Holocaust. I was wrong. From Dena's book, I learned so much more. I learned more roads leading up to it. I learned the warning signs. It was chilling. 

We cannot prevent such atrocities again if we do not see the signs. We must educate the general public and be aware of insidious currents among us. I hope this film would be shown in schools, in museums, on public television, on digital platforms and in theaters. 

At a time when the Holocaust isn't even being taught in some states, and Holocaust denial and antisemitism is growing at a rapid pace, there is no more important time to make this film. My goal is that by donating to this project, you're helping educate the next generation. I know one film can't reach everyone. But the more financial support this project has, the better chances and opportunities the film has to make it to a wider audience. 

I hope you will consider donating to my project and spreading the word. Thank you.