“During the recording, a large wild boar unexpectedly stood right where the actor had to walk. The wild boar stood there, as it were, where Max's fate should be. In many cultures, the wild boar symbolizes strength and bravery. It was so symbolic of the character Max Wolff and that choice he makes there. On the other hand, in Jewish culture the wild boar is the symbol of 'the enemy' against whom he must fight. There was so much symbolism in that moment, I thought it was very special.”
“A film for Bridge to Liberation starts with developing the story. Shortly after last year's event, I sit down with Alvin, artistic director and director, and Nazmiye, screenwriter, to map out the big picture. We think about which characters are interesting and how we can highlight the Battle of Arnhem in a unique way. Then I research characters with diaries and stories to deepen their perspectives. Once the story has been written, we translate it into an image script. Nazmiye thinks about the voiceover, while Alvin decides how the films fit into the show. When everything is ready, the filming begins. These are always intensive, but impressive days.”
Challenges
“There is always a challenge in finding a special perspective to a story that has been told many times before. These are such impressive stories, how do we get that to fit within the existing framework? In addition, ensuring historical accuracy is always a challenge. We use reenactors a lot on set. They know a lot about that time and can also help us decide what is and is not possible.”
“My inspiration mainly comes from personal stories, such as the stories and letters from my grandparents. But also from diaries, for example. It brings you so close. Suddenly it is no longer a black and white character from an archive film, but a character that you completely feel and can almost touch. This year I was even able to draw from first-hand experience, because I was able to shake hands with the main character in the film we are making and talk about his experiences. That makes it extra special for me this year.”
“We also use archive images, which allows us to really connect our images and the images that were shot at the time. There are many brave men and women who also picked up the camera in very bizarre circumstances and started making film recordings.”
“This year we are making a film about Max Wolff, a Jewish boy who left Arnhem to join the army. There is a scene in the film where he decides to leave everything behind and walks towards his new destiny.”
“During the recording, a large wild boar unexpectedly stood right where the actor had to walk. The wild boar stood there, as it were, where Max's fate should be. In many cultures, the wild boar symbolizes strength and bravery. It was so symbolic of the character Max Wolff and that choice he makes there. On the other hand, in Jewish culture the wild boar is the symbol of 'the enemy' against whom he must fight. There was so much symbolism in that moment, I thought it was very special.”
Freedom
“During the Battle of Arnhem, people had to flee their homes to regain their freedom, or perhaps their dignity and a basis for life. Nowadays I hear people look back on this and say: ''How intense, we would welcome these people as heroes!'' Although I appreciate this, I also find it painful to see how refugees from Syria or other countries are now being treated here.”
“There are many things from the stories of the Second World War that are still relevant today or make me think. Such as: 'how do we deal with people who have to leave their home? How do we ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued, regardless of their background?' These questions are still important. I hope our films encourage people to see these parallels and think about how we can ensure freedom and dignity for all.”
