Left Luggage

A Jewish man escapes the Nazis during World War II and buries two suitcases filled with items dear to his heart in the ground. The act is a poignant attempt to secure his memories and future, even as chaos rages around him. The war ends, but his obsession with what he buried never leaves him, and he begins to haunt the Antwerp soil for years to come.

After the war, the man continues to turn over the soil of Antwerp in a compulsive search for the buried suitcases. He checks old maps and retraces spots, convinced that something that mattered to him is waiting to be found. His fixation forms a core pattern of his life in the years that follow.

Chaya, a modern and appealing young woman, searches for a part-time job. She secures a nanny position with a strictly observant Hasidic family that has many children. Her secular manners challenge the household's rules, but the mother needs support, which complicates matters.

Despite the father's authority and resistance, Chaya remains with the Hasidic family as the nanny. She earns the children's affection and begins to bridge the gap between her secular identity and the family's beliefs. The dynamic sets the stage for growing tension and connection.

Chaya forms a special bond with Simcha, the four-year-old boy who seems unable to speak. She treats him with patience and warmth, trying to draw him out of his silence. Their connection becomes a focal point of the family's life and Chaya's own self-discovery.

While walking in the park, Chaya encourages Simcha to speak and helps him prepare for the Passover Seder. The preparation leads to him chanting the Four Questions, symbolizing a breakthrough for him. The moment also highlights Chaya's growing influence on the family.

At the Passover Seder, Simcha finally lifts his voice and chants the Four Questions. The entire family, including Chaya, applauds his effort, but the father criticizes the boy for a mistake. Chaya confronts the father, revealing his own pain as a Holocaust survivor and awakening her understanding of her parents' grief.

The anti-Semitic superintendent of the building becomes a persistent menace to the family and to Chaya. She refuses to be a victim, pushes back against his schemes, and earns the children's admiration, while inflaming the father's wrath. Her stance marks a stand-off against bigotry in everyday life.

Chaya and the family walk in the park, but Simcha drowns in a pond while chasing the ducks he loved. The community grieves, and blame falls on Chaya from some corners, despite the bond she shared with the boy. The incident becomes the emotional crucible for the family and for Chaya.

At the mourning service, Simcha's mother feels compassion for Chaya and recognizes the deep connection Chaya felt with Simcha. In an act of mourning ritual, she tears Chaya's shirt—a sign of a mourner—and accepts her as part of the family's grief. The moment reframes the community's judgement.

During the graveside service, Simcha's father quietly acknowledges Chaya's connection with his son. The gesture is understated but meaningful, signaling a shift in his attitude toward Chaya and her role in Simcha's life. It marks a turning point in the family's dynamic.

Chaya's experiences with the Hasidic family and Simcha help her to come to terms with her own parents' past and losses. She begins to accept her Jewish heritage rather than deny it, integrating the memory of her family into her own sense of self. The transformation closes the arc of personal acceptance.

The story juxtaposes anti-Semitism from outsiders with the lack of connection and self-acceptance among assimilated Jews. It suggests that belonging comes from embracing identity, memory, and love within a community rather than fleeing them. The final takeaway highlights both external prejudice and internal estrangement.