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LILLY: A Legacy of Survival, Courage and Love
A documentary celebrating a remarkable life and a warning from history we cannot afford to forget.
Through rare archival footage, family photos, intimate interviews with Lilly and her close family and the great souls Lilly has touched, 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 sexual assault. She emerged traumatised, yet unbroken.
The film is a multi-generational reflection on lived experience, memory, resilience, trauma, and legacy. Lilly’s feminist story will inspire all who've dared to take their life into their own hands.
We will hear from her grandson Sam, how Lilly inspires him personally, at home and in life. We’ll hear from family members, Sydney Jewish Museum educators, and Courage to Care volunteers who witnessed Lilly’s lifelong dedication to sharing her story with young Australians.
Lilly is more than a Holocaust survivor. She is a symbol of hope, strength, and the power of memory.
So in monumental Lilly fashion, this is more than a biography. It’s a love letter to resilience, a celebration of a woman who will not remain silent. Our documentary is a testament to Lilly’s struggles and her journey to rebuild her life after unthinkable loss.
Who is this film for?
- Young adults who know little about the Holocaust, and/or young people who resonate with strong and resilient women.
- Educators and students of history, genocide, and women’s studies.
- Trainers and counsellors who work with multicultural communities who have experienced trauma.
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation survivors of extreme conflict and trauma.
- Holocaust Survivors and their families
- People who visit Jewish museums, institutions, and schools worldwide
What’s in it for you?
- Are you ever feeling doubt? In yourself, your situation, in others? Lilly’s story not only inspires, it provokes action.
- A fading, rare and unique opportunity to hear from a living Holocaust survivor, and to let this story resonate with you.
- When we process trauma, there comes a time to hear from lived experience, Lilly’s story can be that inspiration.
- Learn how to rebuild, forgive and live with purpose, as Lilly has done with her close family and thousands of schoolchildren already.
“That moment where you can connect one human being to another can change a life, and each life can change a world”
- Dr Kim Slender, Psychologist and Family Therapist
Time Frame of Completion:
With our extensive research ever-growing, we have completed our primary filming needs, including character reels and interviews, edited for grant applications. In order to finish our film we are currently editing raw footage. Alongside the edits, we may need to capture any remaining scenes necessary.
Estimated time of completion: December, 2026
Want to help? Here’s how!
- Contribute directly to the film via this GoFundMe.
- Share this page with your circle, your peers and loved ones.
- Please get in touch for any additional donations and sponsorships.
Your contribution will directly fund:
Pre-production $8,350
Production $26,295
Post production $27,025
New York filming $2,200
Sub Total $63,870
GST $6,387
Total incl GST $70,257
Film Festivals $5,000
These costs include the following:
- Interview filming and the cost of the crew
- Archive and photo licensing
- Editing and post-production
- Music composition
- Festival entries and marketing
- Insurance and legal fees
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
(Exact locations TBC)
Meet the Team and our Collaborators:
The Team Behind the Camera:
Sarita Gold - Director
Judy Menczel - Executive Producer
Joshua Marks - Director of Photography/Cinematographer
Rolma Baldonado - Editor
The Voices Heard and The People Seen
Lily and her Family:
Lilly Wolf - Holocaust survivor, Main
Sam Wolf - Grandson to Lilly
Austin Wolf - Grandson to Lilly
Jerry Wolf - Son to Lilly
Holly Wolf - Daughter in Law to Lilly, Jerry Wolf’s wife
Ronnie Wolf - Son to Lilly
Dani Klein - Cousin to Lilly (Second generation)
Asher Klein - Dani Klein’s Son
Lucy Klein - Dani Klein’s Daughter
Experts:
Dr Kim Slender - Psychologist and Family Therapist
Professor Avril Alba - Holocaust Historian
A Final Note from the Director - Sarita Gold
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 and help us finish what history has only begun to tell.
Notes:
When speaking about generations of Holocaust survivors:
The Survivor (1st Generation)
Direct Holocaust survivor.
Sometimes refers to a specific sub-category for survivors who were children during the war.
Children of Survivors (2nd Generation)
Children born to survivors after 1945.
Grandchildren of Survivors (3rd Generation)
Great-Grandchildren of Survivors (4th Generation)
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarita Gold
Beneficiary