The Property follows a grandmother and granddaughter as they make their way from Israel to Poland to reclaim previously seized family property.

The film–an adaptation of Rutu Modan’s graphic novel–took home four well-deserved nominations at the Israeli Film Academy Awards (Ophir Awards) for Best Actress (Rivka Michaeli), Supporting Actor (Uri Hochman), Screenplay, and Cinematography (Yaron Scharf). I’ll say this: Uri Hochman deserves an award nomination just for his rendition of El Malei Rachamim in memory of those killed during the Holocaust. In looking into Zaduszki, I’m not sure why Jews would choose to participate in what is otherwise a Catholic holiday.

The Property takes a different approach than what I’m used to seeing in contemporary films about Holocaust survivors. Regina Segal (Rivka Michaeli), an 83-year-old woman, is mourning the recent death of her son, Reuben, from cancer. Nobody could blame here for needing a change of scenery for a bit. She uses this time to return to Poland for the first time since settling in Israel during the Holocaust, taking 30-year-old granddaughter Mika (Sharon Strimban) with her. What Mika doesn’t know is that Regina has ulterior motives: reuniting with former boyfriend Roman Orski (Andrzej Seweryn). Regina’s parents, Benjamin and Gita Wagman, split them apart in 1939.

Rather than marry her Christian boyfriend, the Wagmans have Regina marry a Jewish man before sending her off to British Mandate Palestine. What’s to become of their apartment in Warsaw? The property is to become nationalized as Jews are forced into the Warsaw Ghetto. That’s where things are when Regina returns with Mika. What happens when Regina finds Roman, learns that he’s married, and that he’s now living in her family’s old apartment? It soon turns into a situation that can turn in any direction–comedy or drama. Rivka Michaeli plays her scenes so beautifully for what it’s worth.

Regina resents the trip almost as soon as she sets foot in Warsaw. While she keeps to herself and later finds Roman at his family’s restaurant, Mika heads out and meets with a lawyer to look into what options they have regarding the property. It’s after this when she meets a tour guide, Tomasz (Piotr Pacek). while developing feelings for the guide. As if all this is not enough, a distant cousin (Uri Hochman) decides to meddle in whatever their plans may be. There are so many twists and turns as the story continues, making it a breath of fresh air as the film walks the line between comedy and drama.

What’s up with the trend of Jews visiting Poland in movies of late? I don’t know. I didn’t get around to watching Treasure and if you’ve read my work, you know about my issues with A Real Pain. Maybe its because its from Israeli filmmakers but The Property stands out in this subgenre of movies! It’s currently playing a number of Jewish and Israeli film festivals in North America and work checking out. Much like Soda, it’s another Israeli film that explores the filmmaker’s family roots. In this case, the father of co-writers Dana Modan–who also directs–and Ruto Modan. It’s been a long time coming for the sisters as Rutu’s graphic novel was published in 2013.

The Modan sisters grew up in a Polish-Jewish family. Their parents and grandparents had fled Poland at the war’s outbreak. While things really didn’t move into motion until around 2008 or so, The Property‘s roots date back to a dinner conversation in the early 90s. In 2008, the sisters were visiting Warsaw and eventually found themselves visiting the heart of the ghetto.

In her director’s statement, Dana Modan comments that while the film tells their family’s personal story, their opinion is that The Property “reflects a universal story of different generations, and their own unique ways of dealing with history.” How future generations will talk about the Holocaust remains to be seen.

Even though the film was finished before October 7, Modan’s decision to approach The Property through a comedic lens is the right choice, especially given the subject content at hand. The subject material could have played as a strong drama but it would have been tougher to watch during a surge in anti-Jewish hate. But as a film walking the line between genres, it finds a way to work. I enjoyed hanging out with the characters so much that I didn’t even want the film to end!

DIRECTOR: Dana Modan
SCREENWRITERS: Dana Modan & Rutu Modan
CAST: Rivka Michaeli, Andrzej Seweryn, Sharon Strimban, Piotr Pacek, Uri Hochman, Maria Pakulnis, David Velijanashvili, Tamri Bziava, Zbigniew Dziduch, Daniel Suslov, Natalia Romaniak

The Property holds its East Coast premiere during the 2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Upcoming screenings include the 2025 Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema. Grade: 4/5

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