For centuries, Europeans collected cultural artifacts from around the world during the colonial era. German museums have since stored millions of these objects, leading to a cultural vacuum in former colonial countries. A new documentary, “Recovering Lost Treasures,” takes a critical look at the situation and asks: when will indigenous communities be able to finally look at their own cultural relics held in Germany?
The documentary highlights structural problems that lead to neglect and storage issues of these artifacts in German museums. Featuring interviews with experts like Bénédicte Savoy, viewers can expect to learn of the challenges and complexities related to the restitution of these objects. What needs to happen for the restoration of cultural heritage and transparency to occur? “Recovering Lost Treasures” aims to provide an answer.
