Sandra Beerends

NESHOMA brings between-the-wars Amsterdam to life via archival material and the fictional story of Rusha, inspired by testimonies of the Jewish community.

Set in Amsterdam between the wars, where one in ten residents was Jewish, NESHOMA follows 17-year-old Rusha’s life in the Jewish quarter. Through her letters to her brother Max, who emigrated to the Dutch East Indies, a vivid picture of Amsterdam emerges. The film consists of archival footage, capturing the Jewish community’s role—from diamond cutters to artists—while describing the challenges of economic depression, fascism, and war. NESHOMA honours the Jewish soul of Amsterdam.