LILLY: A Legacy of Survival, Courage and Love
A documentary celebrating a remarkable life and a warning from history we cannot afford to forget.
What is this documentary about?
This film tells the story of a woman who refuses to be defined by victimhood. Lilly carries her humour, fierce intelligence, and her love of life into everything she does, as a mother, grandmother, feminist, friend, educator, and speaker.
Lilly Wolf was born in Budapest in 1927. By 17, she had endured the unimaginable: Nazi occupation, the ghetto, deportation, forced labour, the murder of her family, and rape. She emerged traumatised but unbroken.
Lilly is more than a Holocaust survivor. She is a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of memory.
Why are we making this film now?
- Because Lilly is 98.
- Because her voice — and others like hers — are fading from living memory.
- Because she survived history’s darkest hour and chose to rise.
- Because she taught her grandson, Sam, and thousands of schoolchildren what it means to rebuild, forgive, and live with purpose.
- Because in today’s world, where antisemitism, extremism, and violence against women are again on the rise, we need her story more than ever.
Who is this film for?
• Anyone who believes memory matters
• Young adults who know little about the Holocaust
• Holocaust Survivors and their families
• Educators and students of history, genocide, and women’s studies
• Trainers and counsellors who work with multicultural communities who have experienced trauma
• People who visit Jewish museums, institutions, and schools worldwide
How will the story be told?
Through rare archival footage, family photos, and intimate interviews with Lilly, her grandson Sam, her sons, and family, and those she inspired. This film is a multi-generational reflection on experience, memory, resilience, trauma, and legacy. It’s an important touchstone for women and the 3rd Generation.
We’ll hear from survivors, family members, Sydney Jewish Museum educators, and Courage to Care volunteers who witnessed Lilly’s lifelong dedication to sharing with young Australians.
This is more than a biography. It’s a love letter to resilience. A celebration of Lilly who does not remain silent.
The documentary is a testament to Lilly’s struggles and her journey to rebuild her life after unthinkable loss.
Where will the film be seen?
• Television and streaming platforms
• Film festivals and Holocaust remembrance events
• Jewish Museums globally
• Schools and online education platforms
• Community screenings
How your donation will help. Your contribution will directly fund:
• Interview filming and crew costs
• Archive and photo licensing
• Editing and post-production
• Music composition
• Festival entries and marketing
• Insurance and legal fees
A final note from the director
There’s a line from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers) that guides this project:
“It is not up to you to finish the task, but you are not free to avoid it.”
This film is our task. To honour Lilly’s life. To preserve memory. And to remind the world what happens when good people stay silent.
We invite you to be part of this legacy.
Donate now. Help us finish what history has only begun to tell.
No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sam Wolf
Organizer
Tamarama, NSW
Sarita Gold
Beneficiary