Bewariërs
Documentary about Jewish property deposited during World War II and its custodians. Property that was often not returned after the war, against the background of post-war antisemitism.
During the war, Jews had to surrender all their property to the occupying forces. In response to this, Jews left everything of even the slightest (emotional) value with non-Jewish acquaintances and neighbours. From precious jewellery to everyday furniture, everything was entrusted to others with the idea of collecting it again after the war. Of the Jews who eventually returned after the war, many were unable to move into their own homes. And although there were administrators who returned the goods as promised, this often did not happen. The people who held the Jewish property were referred to as bewariërs, a contraction of the Dutch words bewaren (to keep in custody) and Ariêrs (Aryans). Thus the Jews were once again wronged, this time by their own countrymen. BEWARIËRS presents three different stories that show the profound impact of these events.