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Left Luggage (1998)

Drama | 100 minutes
3,36 405 votes

Genre: Drama

Duration: 100 minuten

Country: Netherlands / Belgium / United States / United Kingdom

Directed by: Jeroen Krabbé

Stars: Isabella Rossellini, Laura Fraser and Maximilian Schell

IMDb score: 7,3 (3.080)

Releasedate: 30 March 1998

US
UK

This movie is not available on US streaming services.

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Left Luggage plot

Chaja, a hip philosophy student, takes a side job as a nanny for the Hasidic Jewish family Kalman in the 1970s. As a liberal Jewish, Chaya has a very hard time with the strict rules of life of the Orthodox family. It does not take long before she clashes with father Kalman, who rules his family harshly and without emotion. Chaja wants to resign, but her tenderness for the stupid little Simcha makes her persevere. The bond between Chaja and Simcha keeps getting stronger; she teaches him to talk, she begins to understand the environment and the grief of the family. The search for two lost suitcases that her father has been carrying for 30 years also gradually becomes an unfeasible but understandable self-imposed mission.

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Full Cast & Crew

Actors and actresses

Chaya Silberschmidt

Simcha Kalman

Mrs. Silberschmidt

Mr. Silberschmidt

Yacov Apfelschnitt

Reviews & comments


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Guest

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avatar van Movsin

Movsin

  • 8264 messages
  • 8426 votes

Very nice film about the aftermath of the persecution of the Jews in WWII, but especially about the love for a child.
However, the film seems to be heading for a somewhat imaginative (child suddenly speaking) and playful (the stunt down the drainpipe) story, but becomes super sensitive due to the closing events[/spoiler)].
Handsome acts, especially by Laura Fraser (her grief is very beautifully interpreted) although Isabella Rosselini is also at her best.

dutch flagTranslated from Dutch · View original

avatar van Dievegge

Dievegge

  • 3166 messages
  • 8191 votes

It is nice to recognize the Antwerp locations: the station area, the city park and the Scheldt. The contrast between Hasidic and liberal Jews is reflected in the clothing and lifestyle. They speak English instead of Dutch. The concierge's flat accent is the equivalent of flat Antwerp, while Laura Fraser speaks the equivalent of AN.

There are also a few Hebrew words in it. Seider is the first night of Passover, on which a child recites four questions. Gomer was the promiscuous wife of the prophet Hosea. When Chaja is told that according to the rules she can't wear pants, she switches to a miniskirt, after which the paterfamilias calls her a gomer, similar to "slut".

The title can be interpreted in two ways. Chaja's father has literally gone to two suitcases that he buried during the Second World War. Symbolically, it is about the baggage of the Holocaust, which liberals and orthodox deal with differently.

Chaja undergoes a change through her experience with the baby and the family. Jeroen Krabbé plays a character who doesn't look like himself at all, very dark but also for a reason. Isabella Rosselini plays the conciliator, someone who avoids conflict and tries to bring parties together.

dutch flagTranslated from Dutch · View original

avatar van Brabants

Brabants

  • 2887 messages
  • 2145 votes

Left Luggage is an interesting drama about relationships, humanism and tragedy. The Second World War and anti-Semitism are of course subjects that turn out to be an excellent source of nutrition. A good and enthusiastically playing cast makes this charming yet somewhat depressing film more than worthwhile.

dutch flagTranslated from Dutch · View original