Original subtitles

February 11th, 1941 Bar Alcazar, Amsterdam

She's still breathing. Emergency.

Out of the way.

Marlies?

My darling Rebecca, will you marry me?

Yes.

We need a drip.

Press down on the wound.

Get out of here.

Emiel.

Emiel, watch out.

The Jewish Council 1. The mayors of Jewish Amsterdam

- Virrie, my girl. - Daddy.

I can't stand it. Another minute of this racket and I'll hang myself.

- Your hair. - Virrie, you're home.

- Look what she did to her hair. - For heaven's sake, your beautiful hair.

- This is easier. - Noortje?

I thought you were staying at the hospital. Marjo, stop it.

Cornelia, please. Let it go. Why don't you go for a walk?

- It's freezing. - The fresh air will do you good.

- A visitor for Professor Cohen. - What? Speak up, child.

Mister Asscher is here to see the professor.

Bram?

Marjo, for heaven's sake. You can't keep torturing that poor Chopin.

- Mum? - You're giving us a mental breakdown.

Show Mr. Asscher in. Can you take care of this?

Thank you.

- It's terrible. - Marjo has a concert tomorrow.

Whatever, but there are limits to what the ears can take.

- And they were passed a long time ago. - Mum? Aunt Sophie.

- Dad has an important meeting. - Virrie? Your hair?

- A Jewish Council? - Yes.

A kind of liaison between our community and the occupier.

The Jewish Corner has been completely sealed off, but there's still unrest.

It's because of the recent brawls and there's an urgent need

for peace and quiet, and de-escalation.

I'm going to the shop and then I want peace and quiet.

So, I told that Böhmker

that I think that a Jewish Council is not such a stupid idea,

and that I would talk to a number of candidates.

It's quite urgent.

Jewish Council, I don't like the sound of it.

Then you can call it the Jewish Committee, or whatever.

Such a council could have some positive influence

on the decision making and we could keep...

A finger in the pie.

Exactly.

In any case, he asked me whether I wanted to be the president

and whether I wanted to share the responsibility with someone.

So, I thought of you.

Well, Bram...

So, what do you think?

You and me, mayors of Jewish Amsterdam?

Will you do it?

- I said I'd think about it. - How was Bram doing?

- Alright, given the circumstances. - What's wrong with him?

His wife hung herself.

She thought Wilhelmina was fleeing to London.

That poor man.

That poor woman.

I think we're complementary. Asscher has his business contacts

and connections through his work for the liberal party.

- And he wants me to join because of... - Your intellectual background

and your managerial experience.

What's the council's role?

To ensure a good relationship between the Germans and the Jewish community.

I think communication requires a willingness to engage from both parties.

If the Germans weren't willing to do that,

they probably wouldn't have put this request before us.

I believe we can prevent a lot of problems by keeping communicating

with the Germans. I would really be relieved

to be of use for the community in these difficult times.

It seems you've already decided.

I think everyone should be thankful that you want to do this.

You're the ideal candidate.

Shall we start? The soup is getting cold.

I will lead the blind

by ways they have not known,

along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness into light before them

and make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do. I will not forsake them.

That's Quiros.

He's a butcher in Jodenbree Street.

It would be smart to integrate tradespeople as well.

Yes, that's true.

Gentlemen, would you be so kind?

I'm deeply saddened that Professor Frijda made it clear

that he does not want a seat in the council, since he fears

that it will become an instrument for the Germans.

And also Mr. Kisch has made some objections that I...

that we will take to heart.

It is obvious that we are in a difficult position

and I support the basic principle that was proposed

that we shouldn't accept orders that are dishonourable for us, Jews.

Still, collaborating with the occupier, in spite of the peril,

seems to be the right strategy at this point.

Together...

we should put everything to work in order to guide our tormented community

as safely as possible through this storm.

To our president.

To our presidents. L'chaim.

Jewish Council headquarters

Jewish Council

secretary

Prof Dr. B. Cohen... president entrance via secretary

Just put those over there.

- Mrs. van Tijn, good morning. - Good morning, Mr. Cohen.

- Miss Levie. - Professor.

- Hi. - Hello.

- What happened? - I walked into a fascist.

What about you? Did you fall down the stairs?

This is Piet Meerburg, a fellow student.

Thank you. Virrie Cohen.

- I'm Piet. - To the bride and groom to be.

Cheers. Good luck. Have a good one.

Can't you put in a good word to get me a job at the Jewish Council?

- A married man has to be the provider. - Just go and work for the Germans then.

Virrie's father is the council's president.

It's our song.

- Shall we dance? - Sure.

I apologise, that was...

Do you work for the council too?

I'm a nurse.

What about you?

I'm a student. Law.

It suits you, the short haircut.

It's one o'clock.

Yes, but I'll be done in a minute.

Did you have a good time?

Good.

Good night.

I...

At the ward,

we have a couple of Polish orphans.

They're refugees from Warsaw.

- They sometimes tell us things... - I know.

It's...

- It's so horrible. - They're just rumours, Virrie.

They're unconfirmed and of no use to us.

- But they say... - We're not in Poland.

Jews have a different position in the Netherlands.

We are a part of this society.

We just have to hold on. Grit our teeth and stay calm.

The Germans won't last for long.

Really, the war will be over soon.

- Sure. - Good night.

See you tomorrow.

This is strictly business.

That's important.

Don't beat around the bush, no emotional whining, just...

Be to the point.

Museum Square Amsterdam Beauftragte Böhmker's office

Gentlemen, I'm glad you're here.

- Cohen. - Do sit down.

- Coffee? - No, thank you.

Yes, please.

Gentlemen, I believe we have a common goal.

- Keeping the peace in Amsterdam. - Thank you.

And making sure everything is done calmly and orderly.

Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem.

You are a professor in classical antiquity, right?

A wonderful subject.

Unfortunately, my knowledge of Latin is a bit rusty.

Remember to keep the faith in difficult times.

Horatio.

Gentlemen, as you know, since the death of Hendrik Koot,

who was beaten to death by riffraff,

the situation is volatile.

That is why it's our priority, as I'm sure you will understand,

to have the Jewish community hand in their weapons.

That would be beneficial to us all.

To prevent escalation.

Of course, Mr. Böhmker.

Although the continuous provocations from the NSB and the German military

do contribute to the explosive situation as well.

Don't you think?

I will take the necessary steps to restore the peace.

Gentlemen...

to our collaboration.

Cheers.

Concerning the unrest...

the Amsterdam Beauftragte has let us know

that the German authorities will no longer tolerate this.

Additionally, they will take the necessary measures to prevent this in the future.

It is of crucial importance

that you all keep up-to-date with the measures

that the Jewish Council will communicate as of now.

Those of you who might be in possession

of firearms, blunt or stabbing weapons,

should immediately hand these over to the Amsterdam police.

And I want to stress

that those who will not heed this call are putting others in danger.

We're not harming anyone.

Signs of agreement or disagreement in the audience will not be tolerated.

Collaborate.

Take your responsibility.

Thank you.

extra urgent call to hand in all weapons

Professor Cohen will be in shortly.

It's not strange that people don't want to hand in their umbrella

when the rain is coming.

Mrs. van Tijn, can I help you?

Absolutely, I've heard alarming rumours from Wieringermeer.

The Germans are planning to shut everything down.

- A shut-down? - Yes, we really should prevent this.

The boys in that labour village have permission to go to Palestine

and I don't see how we can manage this if...

Shots have been fired near the Koco ice-cream parlour.

The Germans claim to have been attacked with ammonia gas

- during a search. - There's been trouble there for weeks.

Last week two guys from the NSB broke the windows.

Mrs. van Tijn, we'll take this up again tomorrow.

Amsterdam, February 21st, 1941

My dearest,

I don't know how to explain how life has changed over here.

- See you tomorrow, Miss Levie. - See you tomorrow.

I'm having a few friends over tonight, if you feel like it...

you're welcome to join.

That's very nice of you, but my parents are counting on me.

Fine.

Everyone is worried about what will happen in the coming months.

Everyone is doing their best to stay strong.

And every once in a while,

just for a moment, we try and forget the darkness.

Everything is dull and grey.

It seems as if everyone has gotten smaller in the first year of the war.

On your knees. Hands up.

Now. Hands up.

Stop.

Papers.

- Take him away. - No.

- Emiel. - No.

Emiel. Let me go.

I don't know whether this letter will ever reach you.

And whether I will ever find the words to describe what is happening here.

Still, these are scenes I will never forget.

I would have sworn we had a bottle of gin around here.

- A glass of water is fine. - Water? You can't survive a war on that.

Miss Levie, could you come to my office when you're feeling better?

I want to file a written complaint against these practices.

Don't you think this situation requires more than that?

And what do you propose we do?

I don't think this is the right time to antagonize the Germans even more.

- I'm just saying... - Adding fuel to the fire won't work.

That won't help us get those poor boys back home.

Meira?

Hi, Meira.

Calm down, dear. Don't worry.

Don't worry.

Nothing can happen to you here.

Virrie? There's a Mrs. Wertheim on the phone for you.

I'll be right back, Meira.

Daddy...

Emiel Wertheim has been arrested.

- In that raid at the Daniel Meijer Square. - The poor boy.

His mother rang me.

They have no idea where he is, so she asked me...

They've been taken to Schoorl and then Mauthausen, that's all we know.

- Mauthausen? - A camp in Austria.

He was just out for a walk with Rebecca.

He didn't do anything.

- How long will he have to stay there? - I don't know, dear.

I'd like to tell you more, but we have no information. We are on top of it.

We'll probably have news soon.

We just have to remain calm now.

Every new disturbance gives rise to confrontations.

That raid was the consequence of the brawl at the ice-cream parlour.

And it doesn't help that the communists are calling for another strike.

- But that strike... - Professor?

Mr. Asscher is waiting downstairs.

I have to go. Will I see you at dinner?

- Yes? - Yes.

People of Amsterdam, strike, strike.

Show unity and solidarity. Together, we are strong.

We have to show strength, all of us, in great numbers.

I thought we had agreed to avoid chaos at all times.

You had ensured me that you had everything under control.

the port has been shut down.

Chaos at the Dam, fighting in the streets.

Public transport is down, it's one big mess.

And it all started in the Jewish quarter.

The riffraff over there only causes unrest and problems.

I must disagree on that point, Mr. Böhmker.

- The Jews didn't start the strike. - No?

No, that was a spontaneous action from the entire Dutch population

to express their solidarity with the Jewish community.

Are you calling me a liar?

Mr. Böhmker, more than 400 innocent young men were transported to Mauthausen.

No one knows how they are or when they are coming back.

- That creates a certain sense of... - I want you to end this, understood?

- You will put an end to the strike today. - You can't expect...

Otherwise we will be obliged to conduct a new raid

and to arrest another 400 Jews at random.

Mr. Böhmker,

this situation is also weighing very heavily on us.

It's the communists who are creating all of this chaos.

- You can't blame us for... - I don't care who is behind this.

I just want it to end.

And I don't believe I invited you to sit down.

Disagree is a word you should never use when talking to Germans.

What he was saying was obviously not true.

So what? Anger and outrage won't get us anywhere.

We need to convince them with arguments,

- otherwise we won't get any respect. - And now what?

All hands on deck.

We strongly request the population to refrain from any such rash actions.

They only lead to violence and unrest.

We feel obliged

to urge all of the Jews residing in the Netherlands

to follow all of the rules and regulations that the German authorities

have issued for the Jews. And not to try and back out of their obligations.

We urgently request everyone to return to work in an orderly fashion.

We, on our part, are prepared to defend the interests of all Dutch Jews,

without any distinction.

Let us all make sure to avoid any unnecessary casualties.

This will only be possible when we can count on the trust

and the collaboration of all Jews, without exception.

If we do it together, if we all draw the line,

then the Germans can't do anything.

- I don't know, Piet. People are afraid. - No, they've been frightened.

There's so much solidarity.

There's so much anger and what does the Jewish Council do? They deflate it.

Everyone is afraid of going against the occupier.

So, did you hear about Emiel?

- He's in Mauthausen. - Yes.

I know.

And that's your fault.

All of that tough talk.

Resistance and talking back incites violence

and that's why innocent boys like Emiel were taken to horrible labour camps.

Let's get this straight.

The Germans took Emiel away, not us.

- They were provoked. - You're calling it provocation

- to revolt against being treated as dogs? - It doesn't help.

So, doing nothing is better then? That we just do what the Germans tell us?

More than 400 innocent boys were arrested.

And the whole of Amsterdam revolted against that.

All of the factory workers, the people in public transport,

they all said that they won't tolerate

Just get back to work, or the Germans might get angry.

He just wants the people to know that we need to remain calm.

To prevent things from getting worse.

The war will be over soon.

I hope so.

I really hope you're right.

I want to discuss something with you.

Face to face, and since that's difficult at home...

- Cornelia? - I found a place

where I can go to with the girls, in the Achterhoek.

It's with people I used to know.

With the current unrest in Amsterdam and our...

situation at home, this seems like a good time to leave.

- Out of the question. - David, you understand...

My family cannot possibly leave Amsterdam now.

That's sending the wrong message. In my position as president...

Your position is not my biggest concern now.

- It's about our daughters' safety. - Fleeing is punishable.

That's much more dangerous.

There is no reason at all to be concerned or panicked.

The girls are safe. And you too.

- I will make sure of it. - I can't take this anymore.

The matter is closed. Is that clear, Cornelia?

Mr. Quiros has excused himself.

He wanted me to inform you he is pulling out.

Out of the Council.

Excuse me, gentlemen. I was just wrapping up an important phone call.

I've just talked to Böhmker.

I think I've managed to repair the damage slightly.

Esteemed council members,

as you all know, we as presidents have been busy these past few days

to make all of the necessary efforts to end the unrest in the city.

Mister president, to my knowledge it's an inalienable right to strike.

Of course, Mr. Kisch. That is true.

However, Mr. Böhmker made it clear that if the disturbances were to continue

another 400 of our people would be arrested

and also sent off to the Mauthausen concentration camp.

Since all kinds of alarming news has reached us about the horrible treatment

and of more and more deaths over there,

we saw it as our duty to prevent this.

We are relieved to be able to tell you that we have succeeded in our plan.

Well, then I would like to suggest

the impending shortage of vegetables and kosher cheese.

Maybe it's...

I'm sorry, it lasted much longer than expected.

Poor man.

- This has gone cold. Noortje? - That's fine.

- Cornelia, can I have some water, please? - No. I'm sorry, I'm on strike.

Mum, please.

I think we're all tired.

- Can you reheat the professor's soup? - Of course.

We all know David is bearing a heavy load and it's up to us

- to support him any way we can. - Oh, please.

Such nonsense.

Whoever honours their fellow man will be honoured as well.

Whoever respects their fellow man

will be respected as well.

Mum?

What's wrong?

Did you and aunt Sophie have a falling-out?

I understand it's not easy having so many people in the house.

But you can't act like this.

We're all having a hard time, you can't take your frustrations out on us.

- Shut up. - It's hard on daddy too.

Shut up, I said. Don't meddle in things you have absolutely no clue about.

I'm leaving.

- Already? - I'm in the night shift.

Right.

- Bye, aunt Sophie. - Bye, Virrie.

I'm going to pass by Emiel's family first. I want to ask whether they have any news.

Virrie, I...

Take good care of yourself.

- See you next week. - See you then.

in the hopes you will never need it love, M

They said he died of a heart disease.

There was nothing wrong with Emiel's heart.

They can send his ashes home if we pay 25 guilders.