- Josef Ganz, editor of trade journal Motor-Kritik, amazed Germany by appearing in a revolutionary tiny car in 1932. It was his dream: a people's car anyone can afford. The idea made its way to new Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler. But in Hitler's dream there was no place for Jewish inventor Ganz. This is the story of the man whose designs led to the invention of the Volkswagen Beetle, and who ultimately lost everything. In the film, Ganz's relatives and admirers bring his lost heritage back to life.
- Josef Ganz (1898-1967) was car-mad, a brilliant engineer, a razor sharp automotive journalist and unafraid to break technical boundaries. In short: he lived for cars. His dream was to create a small, safe and affordable car for the average man. Also, he was Jewish. A minor detail, if it weren't for the fact that he was living in Nazi Germany.
"Ganz" takes the viewer on a journey to a time when cars had just been invented. Back then cars were just playthings for the rich and famous. Yet Ganz saw their potential to revolutionize society. In his mission to make a car for the people, Ganz found a remarkable ally in Adolf Hitler. This freshly elected politician managed to silence the skeptical motor industry, push the massive Autobahn project forward, and stimulate research into a 'volkswagen'. But, as Hitler amassed power and revealed his true fascist tendencies, he turned on Ganz and threatened his life, forcing him to flee. Meanwhile, his invention was reworked and refined, until it became the Volkswagen Beetle, one of the most popular and successful cars in history. Ganz eventually died in exile, thousands of miles from his homeland and practically forgotten by all.
In the film, present-day stories told by Ganz' relatives and admirers intertwine with the story of Ganz's life itself. We meet his distant relative Lorenz who, as a car fanatic, is following in his great-great-uncle's footsteps. Together with Dutch Ganz expert Paul Schilperoord, they go in search of existing models of the original Ganz car and try to get a functioning model on the road again. We meet Maja, another of Ganz's relatives, who received a very touching letter from her great-uncle when she was born, and whose words have stayed with her all her life. We also meet Remy, a conceptual artist, as he gains access to an immense archive of photographs Ganz took. They inspire him to create an exhibition about the brilliant inventor who never received the recognition he deserved. Ultimately, all of their work serves to restore Ganz's lost legacy and bring it into today's world.
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