Figure 2.--The Dutch film "Left Luggage" addresses the question of how Holocaust survivors and their children deal with the Holocaust.

A HBC reader mentions "Left Luggage". The film addresses the question of how Holocaust survivors and their children deal with the Holocaust. It was the debut as a producer of Dutch actor Jeroen Krabbé. With Laura Fraser as Chaja and Adam Monty as Simcha. Further: Jeroen Krabbé as Simcha’s father and Isabelle Rossellini as his mother. Story: Antwerp, the Seventies. Chaja is the daughter of a couple who, each in their very different way, are trying to cope with memories of the holocaust. A non-observant young woman, she becomes a nanny in a Hassidic family. She has little understanding for the family’s rules and rituals. Simcha, much to the distress of his parents, doesn’t speak at age four. Chaja takes to the boy and a her love opens him up and induces him to speak. Uttering simple, single words at first, he finally asks his father the traditonal questions at Seider. Then fate catches up with them as Simcha drowns in the pond of the city’s park.

Filmology

It was the debut as a producer of Dutch actor Jeroen Krabbé. The nationality of the film is a little complicated. We classify it as a Dutch film. In fact it is a Dutch-Flemish co-production sponsored by the Film Funds of both countries. (The Flemish speak Dutch.) The director is Dutch, the cast is international.

Cast

With Laura Fraser as Chaja and Adam Monty as Simcha. Further: Jeroen Krabbé as Simcha’s father and Isabelle Rossellini as his mother.

Setting

The film is set in Antwerp during the 1970s.

Plot

"Left Luggage" addresses the question of how Holocaust survivors and their children deal with the Holocaust. The film is a touching story of love between a young woman and a little boy. Chaja is the daughter of a couple who, each in their very different way, are trying to cope with memories of the holocaust. A non-observant young woman, she becomes a nanny in a Hassidic family. She has little understanding for the family’s rules and rituals. The two boys seen here are Simcha's brothers and two of the six children that Chaja cares for (figure 2). These two play just a minor role in the story. The real star is Simcha, the boy who doesn't speak until Chaja teaches him. Simcha, much to the distress of his parents, doesn’t speak at age four. Chaja takes to the boy and a her love opens him up and induces him to speak. Uttering simple, single words at first, he finally asks his father the traditonal questions at Seider. Then fate catches up with them as Simcha drowns in the pond of the city’s park.

Book

The film is based on Twee Koffers Vol (1993), a short story by Carl Friedman (born 1952). She grew up in Eindhoven and Antwerp and came out with Tralievader (Nightfather) (1991) in which she addressed her experiences with a father who returned from a concentration cap a traumatized man.

Figure 2.--The Dutch film "Left Luggage" addresses the question of how Holocaust survivors and their children deal with the Holocaust. Here are two of Simcha's brothers. Click on the image for another scene from the film showing Simcha.

Reader Comments

A Duttch reader has provided the information here. He tells us, "The film is of special interest to me as most outside scenes are shot in streets I used to rove as Boy Scout during the 1960s.

The Dutch Holocaust

The NAZI destruction of the Dutch Jews is one of the saddest in the apauling history of the Holocaust. The NAZIs succeded in killing Dutch Jews more effectively than virtually any country, despite the fact there was no strong tradition of anti-semitism in the Netherlands. The Nethelands had been a haven for German Jews fleeing the NAZIs before World War II. After the War it became a death trap.

Created: April 6, 2003
Last updated: April 6, 2003