A half-hour TV documentary
Languages spoken: Dutch, English, Hebrew
Dutch, English and Hebrew versions are now available
 

Sadly, Hans Snoek died one year after this documentary was made, at the age of 91.

'Simply Human’ tells the story of Mrs. Hans Snoek, a 90 year old Dutch dancer who has dedicated her life to helping people. Famous in the Netherlands for being the creator of the Scapino Ballet (an adult group dancing for children), the Krakeling theater (a children's theater) and many more artistic and humanistic activities, including the creation - just three years before - of the Toverbal ("Magic Ball": a foundation dedicated to help refugee children in the Netherlands to overcome their traumatic experiences through the experience of Arts), for all these contributions she's received top honours from the Dutch Queen and other Dutch institutions. Famous as she was, there's one part of Hans Snoek's life that was little known and that sheds light on her unique character.
During World War II she hid Jewish people in her home in Amsterdam, and for risking her life in this way she's received the Righteous Among the Nations Award from Yad Vashem (the holocaust memorial institute in Jerusalem.)

The film focuses on the first ever trip she and her husband since 50 years, the television pioneer Erik de Vries, made to Israel in October 2000.

Through her meetings with one of the women whose life she saved, her visit to Yad Vashem, her visit to a dance school in a kibbutz, where, at this age (!), she's dancing with the teenagers, we get to know this unpretentious and modest woman who considers all what she's done to be "simply human".

 

The film ends with the realisation of Hans’ childhood dream to become an orchestra conductor, when the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra is playing a Schubert march under her amazingly able hands. Simply Human is a documentary about a single woman in a terrifying world, who makes us all look closely at ourselves.


Credits:
Camera Oded Kirma Erik Bannenberg Sound Ashi Milo Ronald Niehaus Footage NAA Polygoon Script Izzy Abrahami Off-Line Editor Erga Netz On-Line Editor Juan Morales Associate Producer Robert Stel Producer Erga Netz Director Izzy Abrahami Produced by Abrahami-Netz TV Productions for NIKmedia This program was made possible with the help of Kas-Associatie NV, Stichting WJO de Vries-Fonds Mama Cash

Broadcasts:
The premiere broadcast on Dutch national channel 1, in December 2000 Broadcast in The Netherlands by KunstKanaal in October 2001 Broadcast in Israel, by the Educational Channel, in April 2001 and in April 2003

Festivals:
Silver Images Film Festival, Chicago, USA, May 2001 Denver International Film Festival, September 2001 Barcelona Television Festival, Spain, November 2001 Golden Prague, Special Presentation, May 2003 Jewish Film Festival of Girona, Spain, September 2002, April 2001 winner of Best Documentary Jewish Film Festival of Girona in Besalú, Special Screenings, September 2003

Awards:

Jewish Film Festival of Girona, Spain, September 2002 in April 2001 winner of Best Documentary