Inheritance 
| Directed by: | Paul Cuoco |
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| Written by: | Paul Cuoco |
| Starring: | Harrison Young, Robert Olufs |
| Country: | U S A |
| Created: | 2004 |
| Runtime: | 10 min. |
| Member: | notafraid |
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Average rating: 5 by 5 users
Film Description:
Synopsis
Inheritance is a labor of love based on director Paul Cuoco's experience of learning that his Grandfather was a liberator at the Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II. Using his Grandfather's photographs combined with thorough research, Cuoco crafted this film to honor his Grandfather and all of the men who witnessed these atrocities first hand, as well as to honor the memory of those who were forced to endure it. The following is a short synopsis of the film itself: On the eve of his Grandfather's funeral, a young man receives his inheritance. It is not a dowry of riches, but instead a simple manila envelope containing photographs and a letter. As the befuddled young man sifts through the worn and tattered photos he can not believe his eyes. The images are horrific. Image after image of dead bodies neatly stacked in rows. Ovens filled with half-burned human corpses. In shock, he slowly sifts past the horrible imagery to the letter, and reads his Grandfather's words, a powerful and impassioned recounting of that fateful day, April 11, 1945, when he and his company came upon the Buchenwald concentration camp. His Grandfather describes through haunting words and ghastly photographs the horrors of the camp, its effect on him, and the shame he felt for locking these feelings and images away for fifty six years. He pleads to his grandson that this can never be forgotten, it is now his burden to bear, and this is his Inheritance.
Forms: Narrative Fiction, Short
Genres: Drama, Educational, War/Peace, Period/Historical, Docu-Drama
Niches: Jewish
Screenings & Events
San Fernando Valley International Film Festival
Film Festival
North Hollywood, U S A
April 2005
Universal Studios Employee Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Best Short Drama
Universal City, CA, U S A
May 2007
Cast & Crew
Jeff Loach (Producer), Paul Cuoco (Director, Producer, Executive Producer)
WritingPaul Cuoco (Writer)
PerformanceHarrison Young (Lead Actor), Richard Meese (Supporting Actor), Robert Olufs (Lead Actor)
CameraDoug Delaney (Cinematographer/DP)
Art DepartmentPaul Cuoco (Production Designer)
Post ProductionJohn Swihart (Sound Editor), Paul Cuoco (Picture Editor), Sandra Holland (Sound Editor)
MusicJohn Swihart (Original Music/Composer)
To see a higher quality version or if the link isn't working please go directly to the source at the offficial website.
Enjoy and please share your comments.
Paul
I want to thank my Grandfather, Anthony Cuoco, for his bravery, his example, and our freedom. I have done my best to honor him and all the men who served and witnessed this atrocious crime, as well as the victims themselves who toiled for years in those camps. I hope the film lives up to his and their expectations and in the end its intended purpose. As I wrote in the screenplay, “this cannot be forgotten. It cannot happen again.”
- Paul Cuoco | Director
The Producers
Paul & Dara
Robert Olufs
Inheritance onesheet
Ratings
oyveidaniyel
This I think, is the best way of honoring your grandfather. It's a great shame in today's world for some people to think that the Holocaust never occurred. I pray that this film will help break down some of that ignorance.
3 Comments about Inheritance
Mar 17, 2008 04:47PM
Cape Fear Independent Film Festival is looking for some strong short films to screen at the May 2-4 fest. Would you be interested in submitting?
May 22, 2006 06:06PM
When your film finished playing at the San Fernando Film Festival the audience took a breath, paused and then began clapping. This is what your film always does to me as well over and over again. You are a beautiful storyteller and a talented director.
I believe that a good movie should stay with you long after you leave the theatre. The residue that Inheritance has left on many is incredible. Though a challenging story to tell you did it with grace and compassion. We all should remember to 'never forget' that brutal time in our history. A friend from Israel said after watching your film 'those nine minutes felt like hours, I couldn't stop crying.' This is a winner.
May 22, 2006 05:55AM
Paul, Your grandfather would be proud to know that his sacrifices over 50 years ago were not done in vain. Although he never talked about it much, I'm sure he felt a sense of pride being one of the thousands of troops that help liberate Buckenwald. I know he was deeply saddened by what took place there. He grew up in a large loving family and was a first generation American, his parents coming to America from Italy. Thank you for keeping alive the sacrifices members of the Armed Services made on our behalf so many years ago.
Finally, my cousin, a college professor in upstate New York, uses your film in his world history class. He said the movie really resonates with his students. Sadly he adds: “atrocities continue to be part of the world landscape in parts of the world.”
I’m proud of you.
Love,
Dad
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