The Magic Wood

Once upon a time, a Japanese master craftsman carved the tanuki from magical wood. After passing through many hands, it finally came into the possession of Hans Bernhard. Hans is an apprentice and close confidant of the famous Viktor von Ephrussi, who in turn is part of the Jewish banking dynasty thanks to his family. The ambitious Hans has banking talent running through his veins. He completes his commercial apprenticeship, lands a job at National Cash Register, and with Viktor's help finds his way into the closed world of banking. But then the war came…

Years later, his son Peter looks back with the help of the tanuki. He captures the deep connection between Hans Bernhard and Viktor von Ephrussi, his father's role in the banking network of the time, and the great importance of loyalty and friendship in a broken world.