Neshoma

Documentary

Sponsored By
June 15
1:00pm
In Person
Leah Posluns Theatre
COUNTRY
Netherlands
Year
2025
Running Time
88 minutes
Languages
Dutch
English
Subtitles
English
Director
Sandra Beerends

Between WWI and WWII, one in ten residents of Amsterdam was Jewish. Based on numerous testimonies and archival footage from this era, director Sandra Beerends brings to life the neshoma (soul) of the city through a series of letters written by seventeen-year-old Rusha to her brother Max who has emigrated to the Dutch East Indies. Early letters convey a sense of post-WWI optimism and prosperity when Jews played a prominent role in the economic and cultural fabric of the city. As she reaches adulthood, economic depression and rising fascism become the focus of the correspondence and the outbreak of WWII presents Rusha with an impossible choice.

Reviews

“Sandra Beerends has crafted a massive archive of film and photographs into Neshoma, a brilliant look at a Jewish culture and society that was rapidly disappearing.” – POV Magazine

Neshoma is in equal parts joyous, tragic, informative and cinematic.” – Business Doc Europr

Neshoma is about the lives of many who are no longer here, as well as what they have left behind: the Jewish soul of Amsterdam—the neshoma.” – Now Toronto

Co Presenters
Awards & Festivals
Hot Docs International Documentary Festival 2025

Shown With Film

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Neshoma

Running Time: 88