As of: February 22, 2024, 12:15 p.m
By: Carina Ottillinger
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The film crew: Michael Eibl from Haar (M.) with his friends who support him during filming, in front of Kuttenplan Castle in the Czech Republic.
© Project community 30 kilos of home
After the Second World War, Michael Eibl's grandmother from Haar fled from the Czech Republic to Erding.
Now the grandson is telling the story in a film about the escape and the search for a new home.
Haar – Four years ago, Michael Eibl (17) from Haar surprised his grandmother: “Hello grandma, can I make a film about your life story?” At first she was a bit taken aback, but then she agreed.
Christl Eibl, who was expelled from her home in the Czech Republic after the war, understood how serious her grandson was about the project.
Grandmother and grandson grew together during filming.
The two of them slowly understand what the film means.
“It escalated a bit,” says Eibl and laughs.
The film “30 Kilos of Homeland” was created from a spontaneous idea.
Michael Eibl was twelve years old when his grandmother Christl Eibl told him for the first time about her escape from the Czech Republic.
At the age of six, she packed 30 kilos of belongings into a canvas backpack and fled Heiligenkreuz with her family.
The now 83-year-old was able to build a home for herself in Erding.
“At some point I became more probing.”
To this day she lives there with Michael Eibl's grandfather.
As a child, he couldn't understand the magnitude of it.
Nevertheless, the desire for a film was there immediately.
“I noticed an emotionality,” recalls Eibl.
“And a mystery.” At first, his grandmother didn’t like talking about her experiences.
Every now and then he picked up something.
“At some point I became more irritating.” Only now is it becoming clear what this expulsion has done to the people.
Eibl studied the phenomenon of epigenetic inheritance.
Traumatic events can therefore be passed down across generations.
He asks himself: “What did the loss do to my grandmother – to my mother and to me?” In the film, he gets to the bottom of his grandmother’s biography from his perspective as a grandson.
However, his aim is not to give final answers, but rather to raise questions.
The protagonist: Grandmother Christl Eibl.
© Project community 30 kilos of home
The film project is a journey that Eibl has grown from.
It took two attempts.
In 2020 he traveled to Mähring with his grandmother.
The displaced people meet there every year at a memorial church.
He shot his first scenes with an entry-level camera.
He quickly realized that he was reaching a limit.
“My perfectionism got in the way.” In 2021, he put the project on hold.
But his idea didn't let him go.
At the beginning of 2022 he dared to try again.
Not alone this time.
He got friends on board.
Always an emotional experience
Before the first meeting, Eibl had a perfect concept.
There was a plan for every day of shooting.
In the spring, the crew filmed at his grandmother's home.
In the summer they went to Mähring, where they interviewed the mayor of the community.
The boys also shot a few scenes in Grandma's hometown of Heiligenkreuz.
Grandmother, daughter and grandson stood in front of the former home.
“It’s always an emotional experience for my grandma.”
During the filming days in his grandmother's birthplace, he had to change the story.
“Suddenly the expulsion from her homeland was no longer so relevant for my grandmother.” That was a mess for the perfectionist director.
He doesn't want to reveal where the emotional focus is now.
Premiere in spring 2025
There is still a lot to do for the crew before the premiere in spring 2025.
An interview with the chairwoman of the Plan-Weseritz home district is scheduled for March.
The plan is the region from which Eibl's grandmother comes.
The crew also wants to speak to the mayor of Mähring a second time.
Eibl not only wants to tell the story of his grandmother, but also “show its relevance for today.”
He is therefore still looking for experts who can classify the flight and expulsion after the Second World War.
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At the same time, Eibl is looking for sponsors.
He and his crew are producing the film for free.
With so many trips, the budget of 3,000 euros is almost used up.
Another 4,000 euros are added for the premiere.
A next project is not planned.
In the summer, Eibl completes his secondary school leaving certificate.
He wants to start training at a film academy in the fall.
One thing is clear: he remains faithful to the film.
Further news from Haar and the Munich district can be found here.