Let Me Go is a British-Austrian co-production film that explores the aftermath of the Holocaust on families and the legacy of generational trauma. The movie is based on the memoir of the same name by Helga Schneider, and the story arc spans several decades.
The movie begins with Helga (Juliet Stevenson), a successful author in her 60s, receiving a letter stating that her mother Traudi (Karin Bertling), whom she had thought dead, is dying. Helga is plagued by the events of her childhood, particularly by the fact that Traudi had abandoned her and her brother when they were young children to join the SS. She shares this with her daughter Beth (Jodhi May), who is struggling in her own marriage and with alcoholism.
Meanwhile, Emily (Lucy Boynton), Helga’s granddaughter, is curious about her family history and asks her mother Beth about her great-grandmother. The family history is full of secrets, with Beth not telling Emily the whole truth about Traudi’s past. Beth and Helga are still investigating the past, trying to piece together the missing links of their family history. When the opportunity arises for Emily to travel with Helga to Vienna to meet Traudi, a family tragedy inadvertently unlocks new possibilities and a deeper understanding.
Let Me Go is a poignant exploration of a family torn apart by history, trauma, and secrets. It is a story about love, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to confront the past. The movie is directed by Polly Steele and features an excellent cast, including Emily’s boyfriend Paul (Stanley Weber), Beth’s husband Steve (Simon Chandler), and Traudi’s caretaker Kacper (Amit Shah).