Silesian Sky
The documentary portrays four families from Silesia. They are German, Polish, and Czech, and draw on the shared history of a land they inhabited together. What unites them is their Silesian heritage. This is how they identify themselves. But what distinguishes them? They live in different countries and all share a common historical past that influences them. Yet each of these families uses this past differently. Daily life forces people to let go of the idealized notion of how beautiful Silesia once was and to gradually relinquish hope of returning to their ancestral homeland. They know that the memories will not return, and the past cannot be brought back to life. Yet, the grandparents in the portrayed families carry these memories of tradition with them. They have taught their children the Silesian dialect, the bonds of family, the atmosphere, respect for elders, diligence, the songs, poems, stories, and customs.