Original subtitles

- Good morning. - Good morning, sir.

The Jewish Council 3. The disappearing act

This is a time of unrest, of course.

- Both for teachers and students. - Can you still keep up the curriculum?

Fortunately, a number of teachers can take up more than one course.

Let's talk of graves, of worms and epitaphs, make dust our paper,

- write sorrow on the bosom of the earth. - Samuel Polak is one of them.

Can we have a minute?

This is Professor Cohen and Ms Van Tijn from the Jewish Council,

- they are visiting the school today. - Yes.

We want to tell you to do your best.

When the war is over, we'll need smart girls and boys like you.

- You're reading Shakespeare, I see. - Yes.

Do you mind if I stay and listen?

Of course not, have a seat.

I would like...

- Would like a more comfortable chair? - No, thank you. This is fine.

I'm just hoping it doesn't break.

Yes, go on.

Let's choose executors and talks of wills.

And yet not so.

For what can we bequeath, save our deposed bodies on the ground.

Well done, Freddy.

Lea, you had also prepared a piece? Let's hear it.

Bye, sir.

See you tomorrow.

- Bye, sir. - See you tomorrow.

- Bye, sir. - See you tomorrow.

- Freddy should be an actor. - I think so too.

Yes, it's theme month on the works of Shakespeare.

I'm just trying to follow the curriculum.

Even though before we can hand out report cards, most of the students...

will be out on the transports. I...

I don't have any fancy teacups.

who will come back to class

and who has been deported at night?

But what's the alternative?

Every morning I debate whether to get up or not.

Not losing hope, keeping ourselves occupied is a daily necessity.

Ms Van Tijn? We need to go. My meeting is starting soon.

Jenny, Virrie.

This is Lientje.

She has to go to a family in the south, but she keeps crying.

Hi, honey.

What's going on?

Can she stay for a few days?

Thank you.

I'll pick her up at the end of the week.

I strongly protest against this inhumane and humiliating treatment.

When the Jews you transport from Westerbork towards the east

were really to serve as workers there,

they wouldn't be shoved into cattle cars, right?

- David... - No.

This abhorrent method leaves me no other choice but to think

that you are transporting the Jews

to slaughter them.

Mister Cohen...

I greatly admire your passion,

We as Germans don't slaughter.

Such barbarism is not in our nature.

If some people were transported in cattle cars, then it was exceptional.

I will make sure that the transports will be as comfortable as possible.

I'm glad to hear it.

Still, I would like to make the journey myself for my own peace of mind.

So, you won't take my word for it?

No, it's not that. I just want to see for myself whether everything is okay,

so I can reassure my community.

Such unrest is not, as you stress ever so often,

very helpful to either of us.

Fine.

I will see what I can do.

Now, we still have some urgent financial matters to discuss.

As you know, the Dutch Theatre has been commandeered by the Germans

as a temporary reception centre for those waiting for transport.

Walter Susskind is in charge there on our behalf,

with the help of a number of collaborators, such as Miss Levie

who has proved to be indispensable as her German is impeccable.

And now an announcement of a financial nature.

And it's not good news, I'm afraid.

We have been notified that as of now Jewish families are no longer allowed

to have more than 250 guilders per month.

Additionally...

Additionally, all valuables need to be surrendered,

except for personal wedding bands, watches for personal use,

four-piece cutlery and teeth fillings.

How nice, I can keep my crowns. So kind of the occupiers.

I understand that these are very far-reaching measures...

They keep just pushing us and humiliating us.

Gentlemen, please.

Let's try and stay calm.

Thank you.

Of course, all valuables will be carefully registered.

You will have receipts to reclaim your property after the war.

Sure. Do you know what is going to happen to the money, our money?

They'll use it to pay for our destruction.

To buy our train tickets to Westerbork.

- I understand... - If you think you know better,

you can go and see Mr. Aus der Fünten next time.

I would be curious to see how far you'd get.

Go on then.

I understand your horror.

I feel the same way.

I just fear that there's no escaping this.

Mr. Kalf from the financial department will give us some more insights

- in the details of this measure. - Thank you, Mr. President.

Additionally, those unable to work or...

who are facing financial problems will be eligible for social support.

A special fund will be set up for that.

She doesn't want to drink and her fever doesn't go down.

- Can I call the doctor? - You can't, you know that.

They can't treat patients without papers.

When the Germans find out we have an abandoned child here, we're in trouble.

A respiratory infection, I think. The lungs sound clean.

- Shall I get you some medicine? - Thank you.

I know you mean well, Miss Cohen,

but I'm responsible here and you can't put all the children at risk

to save just one.

I hope you understand.

Do you want to help?

You look so pale.

Long meeting.

Sophie has a migraine, she's lying down.

I thought Virrie was coming to help you.

She couldn't get the time off.

It's been so long since we last saw her.

I don't think she likes coming home anymore.

We got those from Aunt Jo, remember?

And I got this one from my nan on our wedding day.

- What time is dinner? - Half past six I think.

Ask Marjo.

Does all of this have to go?

I'm afraid so, darling.

And my ring? Can I at least keep that?

Everyone gets to keep one ring and this is not going.

It's going in consignment until after the war.

Maybe we can ask the neighbours to store some of it for us.

We're coming back here after the war, right?

- Or bury some of it in the garden... - We have to set the example, Miriam.

I'll go and help Marjo.

I've had it, the rest is for you.

That's your wedding band, Cornelia.

This one I got from my mother.

- Stop. - Don't move.

Unfortunately, Mr. Polak is unable to come today.

You can get to work by yourselves and we'll try and find a substitute.

Sir?

Freddy is absent too.

There's another raid in the Beethoven quarter.

Mr. Kalf has been taken away.

With his children.

We had an agreement that our collaborators would be safe from deportation.

Doctors, teachers and clergy have been arrested,

people who are indispensable for the Jewish community

and several members of the Jewish Council.

According to me, I am still the one who decides what our agreements are.

Right?

What should we do then?

Look...

I'll give you...

twenty playing cards, twenty jokers.

You can give those to people who are indispensable to you.

Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty.

Isn't that a nice solution?

Do you know what your beloved Aristotle once said, Mr. Cohen?

When he was asked what a human being actually is?

Man...

is a monument of weaknesses.

There, it's up to you, gentlemen.

All bets are off.

I'm not doing this.

Bram?

I won't be abused in this way.

Then it's up to you.

Anyone who gets a card from him is free to go.

Get out.

Faster. Move it.

Here you go.

We'll make sure to send blankets and warm clothes to Westerbork soon.

- Good luck. - Thank you.

Excuse me.

- This can't be, you have an exemption. - That doesn't mean much anymore.

This is for the entire family, right?

There are four of them.

That's four jokers.

- No way, Cohen. Tell my wife... - We'll be fine, Dad.

You go back to Mum.

It went on until there were no more cards and the rest was sent away for transport.

This will get you past the guards.

Tell them you need to go to the office of the Jewish Council

- to pick something up. - No.

I can get a new one here.

- I appreciate this, but... - I live in Jodenbree Street 7, 4th floor.

Send me word whether you're alright.

- I don't want you to get in trouble, madam. - You won't.

I'm sorry, but in these circumstances we can drop the niceties.

Come over here.

Are you okay?

I just can't take it anymore.

Dante's hell, that's what we're in now.

I was meant to get married this month.

He was arrested in the first raid and...

he died in Mauthausen.

And you?

I'm getting divorced.

He ran off with my secretary.

She lived with us in Blaricum, she was such a nice girl.

I used to work for the Jewish refugee committee and the Jewish interest council.

I was really busy.

And she was a great help.

And she loved me.

And the children.

And your husband too.

Right.

- Get off. - Get out.

Get off, get into the alley.

Get off.

Faster.

Move it.

Move it, faster.

Faster. Move it.

Go on. Move it.

Your children will come with me to the daycare

until you go to the transport.

This facility is not really suited for children.

We'll take good care of them.

Come with me.

Miss Levie.

Can we arrange something for Freddy de Vries?

He's fourteen, too old for daycare.

Is this your card?

I can ask Dr. Roos for a note saying he's ill.

To make an exception for him.

I'll talk to his parents.

Mr. and Mrs. de Vries? I'm Walter Susskind.

I'd like to ask you something about your son, Freddy.

- I can't believe this. - What should I have done?

Jokers?

I had to opportunity to save twenty members of our community

from the humiliating transport to a German labour camp.

I can assure you that I would have preferred to sink into the ground

to save myself from this ordeal.

You could have walked away.

Yes, that's true.

But I chose to save twenty people from deportation.

History will judge my actions.

She's doing much better.

Go on.

- Hi. - Telephone call for you.

Will you stay with Lientje?

Virrie, I know you're busy but...

It's my birthday and we're celebrating at the Jewish Council.

Of course, I immediately said I didn't want them to celebrate my birthday,

but they insisted and...

it would mean a lot to me if you could be there too.

I'm sorry, but I can't.

I'm busy.

Of course.

Of course.

I have to go.

Say hi to Mum and Miriam for me and...

Happy birthday.

The doctor thinks it's diphtheria, it's really contagious.

They can isolate him in daycare.

Go on.

Come with me.

You're a really good actor.

Come on.

Can you get him something to eat? Piet won't be long.

- Do you want to see a magic trick? - A magic trick?

A really good disappearing act.

Pick a card and don't show it to me.

Safe trip, boy.

You don't understand, I really need to see him.

As I said, Mr. Cohen is busy right now.

- You'll have to wait until Monday. - Monday?

Then I'll be on the train back to Poland.

Miss Levie, do you have a moment?

Mr. van Duin?

I'm professor Cohen's secretary, how can I help you?

I've been trying for the last hour to explain that I need to see the president.

Professor Cohen is really busy.

I'm a gardener, I work in Poland near Auschwitz.

I have important information about the situation over there.

I made it clear to Mr. de Wit that I don't have time to see this man.

He will have to come back.

- But he came all the way... - Miss Levie.

It's no use to start taking every horror story or unconfirmed rumour seriously.

If you would excuse me, I need to finish this.

They were already emptying my flat when I arrived, I saw them taking out a painting.

So, I've been drifting around.

You can stay here for a couple of days.

I need to get to the office, but I'll fix something to eat when I get back, sir.

No niceties.

Yes, of course.

I can imagine that many of you wondered

whether we have the right to gather for such a celebration.

Since we have lost many thousands, tens of thousands of our fellow citizens.

We hope it is but temporary.

We all do.

But then I say that you can't imagine the great desire we feel

to show what we are experiencing and to pay tribute to this man.

A man came by today who works in Poland, near Auschwitz.

He told us such horrible stories.

He does his work with heart and soul for the Dutch Jews.

The circumstances are disgraceful.

- Barracks full of emaciated... - With this...

we want to offer you this special gift for your 60th birthday.

A photo book with pictures of all of the sections of the Jewish Council.

I want to thank everyone present here

for the kind and encouraging words

and for this important document.

This records everything that we are realising here together.

I need to go, Miss Levie. I'm sorry.

- I can't raise a glass... - I want to mention those who are absent.

The collaborators and those...

- who have been taken from their homes. - What are we doing here?

To be sent to places unbeknown to us.

My dearest...

There are times I believe I can't go on anymore.

When I'd like nothing better

than to shut myself down for a moment.

So I can finally stop thinking...

about all of those questions that I don't have an answer to.

Where are those trains headed to?

Why are we receiving hardly any letters from the labour camps?

Why are they deporting even elderly and sick people?

We cling to those rare moments where we can make a difference.

Hi, I'm Jenny and this is Freddy.

And for the rest, we just do our job.

We're doing our best to ward off our feelings of panic and fear.

I'm thinking of you.

I could really use your comfort.

Come on.

Move it.

Go on. Move it.

Go on. Move it.

Faster. Move it.

Cohen speaking.

Get on the train. Move it.

Go on. Move it.

- Get on the train. Move it. - In the front, move it.

Keep moving. Faster.

Get on the train.

Keep moving.

Faster.

Virginie Cohen, come forward now.

Virginie Cohen, come forward now.

Virrie?

- This isn't helping anyone. - I'm not leaving her.

- What's going on? - Don't worry, everything is fine.

Virginie Cohen.

- Virginie Cohen. - Papers.

Come with us.

No.

I'm staying here.

You can come willingly or we can force you.

It's up to you.

Go away.

Honey...

My baby...

- Why didn't you warn me? - Virrie...

- Thank God. - Why didn't you tell me they were coming?

- I didn't know. - One message.

That would have been enough.

I could have saved the children.

I didn't know about the raid.

- How did you get me off the train then? - One of my contacts...

Virrie...

- You are my daughter. - So?

I'm more important?

This is such a mess.

All of this scheming and plotting, it's just delaying...

It's obscene.

One day this nightmare will be over.

Then we'll have to rebuild the Jewish community.

That's what I'm thinking about, I have to.

Even if it's extremely difficult. Who will we need most then?

I won't leave my people behind.

I will not forsake them.

I will maintain my decency even if I'm surrounded by...

If I were you, I wouldn't be talking about decency.

Not in this house.

Not under this roof.

Where are you going?

I'll be fine.

I'll see you in daycare tomorrow.

Virrie?