Verdoner family holiday and houseboat
Creator(s)
- Otto Verdoner
- Yoka Verdoner
- Francisca Verdoner Kan
- Gerrit Verdoner (Camera Operator)
Biographical History
The Verdoner Family - Gerrit and Hilde Verdoner, their children Yoka (b.1934), Francisca (b.1937) and Otto (b.1939) - were Jewish. In May 1940, when the Germans overran the Netherlands, Nazi decrees aimed specifically at Jews forced Gerrit out of his business and Yoka out of her second grade class. When the Nazis commandeered their home, the Verdoners went to live with Gerrit's parents in Amsterdam. Shortly thereafter, Gerrit and Hilde decided to place the children in hiding. Their foresight enabled the children to survive and save these family films. Hilde entered Westerbork on December 18, 1942, while Gerrit had a job with the Jewish Council. On September 29, 1943, after the collapse of the Jewish Council and Gerrit's narrow escape from the Germans, Gerrit found refuge in a hideout on a farm. On January 8, 1944 Hilde was sent to Auschwitz. After the war, Gerrit managed to reunite with his children and other surviving family members. The Verdoners emigrated to the US in 1946.
Scope and Content
EXT, MCU, a man in a small house boat, docked. According to documentation that accompanied original films, the man's name is Leo Wijnbergin Punter. Gerrit Verdoner comes out on deck, putting on his shirt, and takes one of the eggs from the table, puts it in his mouth and begins to ham it up for the camera before ducking back inside the cabin. MS, EXT of the houseboat, the sea, and the window of a building, there is a sign on the building that reads: "STALLING-R'JWIELEN". Camera continues to pan building and surrounding farmland. VCU to MS of two young women standing in the doorway of the house. They wave to the camera. MCU, older woman, holding and petting a cat poses for the camera in the same doorway. Three young men fixing a motor on a small boat. Children wading in the water at the beach - Yoka and Francisca Verdoner are present, along with other children their age and some a bit older (pre-adolescent). Yoka and Francisca having tea and biscuits at the beach, sitting outside at the beach house. CU, Francisca waves to the camera.
Subjects
- NETHERLANDS
- BEACHES
- WOMEN
- JEWISH LIFE (PRE-WAR)
- FAMILIES
- EATING
- FARMERS/FARMING
- BOATS
- CHILDREN (JEWISH)
- CHILDREN
Places
- Hilversum, Netherlands
Genre
- Film
- Amateur.