With this film, I set out to bring to light the history and heritage of the Sephardic, Ladino-speaking Jewish community of North Macedonia—a story that has remained largely absent from both global and Jewish consciousness. My goal was to look beyond the simple documentation of a vanished community and instead explore the physical architecture, sacred spaces, and cultural traces that once defined the rhythm of their lives.
My approach to this project is deeply personal, rooted in a unique level of access and connection:
Collaborative Discovery: By working closely with a student delegation, I was able to capture their raw, personal engagement with history, revealing a profound depth of commitment that transcends traditional research.
Family Ties: The intimacy of the film is enriched by my own roots; my maternal grandparents were born in Romania, and the protagonist's husband is a distant relative of mine. This shared lineage fostered a rare openness on camera, allowing us to share personal photographs and private documents that lend the film its authentic, intimate perspective.
Throughout my career, my work has consistently engaged with Holocaust memory and Jewish history—from my previous documentaries on Anne Frank and Operation Entebbe to my doctoral research on Dutch Jewish communities. This film is a natural continuation of that journey. It serves as an investigation into how cinema can preserve memory, confront the weight of loss, and illuminate the endurance of cultural heritage.
By weaving together personal narrative, historical research, and architectural investigation, I hope this film serves as a meditation on memory, identity, and the enduring traces that communities leave behind. Eyal Boers