Still: Etty (photo: Anne Wilk)

“We need more independent and free spirits to stay strong, to confront the world with the truth, to speak out loud for the freedom of the individual,” Topkapi Series boss Frans van Gestel reflects to SEE NL on Dutch diarist and thinker Etty Hillesum, whose story is told in Hagai Levi’s six-part drama series Etty. The production may be majority French, but it is Dutch-spoken, and much of the series was shot in The Netherlands. 

Aged 27, while living in Amsterdam, Etty Hillesum kept a diary that underlined her steadfast belief in humanity. Her therapist and companion, the psychoanalyst Julius Spier, observed her inner development closely. Despite the growing threat of war and the atmosphere of hostility around her, she maintained her faith in the value of life and people. In 1942, she volunteered to work at Camp Westerbork to support those detained there, before being deported to Auschwitz in 1943, where she was murdered with so many others.

 Hillesum’s Dutch-language diary was first published in full in 1986, and was subsequently translated into 18 languages. The book’s universal appeal is reflected in the international profile of the series adaptation by Israeli filmmaker Hagai Levi. The majority stake-holder is Les Films du Poisson (Paris), while the minority co-pro credits are taken by Topkapi in The Netherlands, KomplizenFilm (Germany) and Quiddity (Italy). 

“That the series is Dutch-language says a lot about Hagai,” says Topkapi’s Van Gestel. “Such is his admiration for Etty Hillesum and for her diary, he wanted to do the most authentic version of her life and thoughts, even while he's not speaking Dutch himself. For a director of his standing this is a very brave and amazing decision - but this creative approach is something you see in all his work.”

Another creative decision on Levi’s part was to alternate timelines in the series, Van Gestel adds. “Etty Hillesum will be walking through Amsterdam, but we see modern cars and then suddenly we see WW2 soldiers. But despite these very artistic choices we completely go along with her on her journey, with her thoughts, with what's going on with the repression and how she's dealing with it. Hagai is not afraid to take a psychological approach to the characters.”

When Van Gestel was approached by Yaël Fogiel of Les Films du Poisson, half of the finance was already in place, even before any of the core Dutch arrangements had been made. “This collaboration was a big present, as the reputation of Les Films du Poisson is great,” says Van Gestel, whose suggestion it was to also approach the German Komplizenfilm. 

In terms of Dutch involvement, the majority of the series was shot in The Netherlands (mainly Amsterdam) by DOP Martijn van Broekhuizen, who lensed Victoria Warmerdam’s brilliant Oscar-winning short I Am Not A Robot. It also involved many Dutch actors, and received serious investment from the Netherlands Production Incentive.

"We are proud that, through an impactful series like Etty, 'our' Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular, will be seen by an international audience,” Van Gestel adds.

“The fact that the series is spoken in Dutch makes it even more authentic, and the premiere at Venice is definitely the icing on the cake for the Dutch cast and crew."

The Netherlands producer further believes that the production set-up on the series was “close to perfection.” 

“It was all focussed on quality and authenticity. That was the essence of this production – that was its heartbeat,” he underlines. “We made time for the actors and we had the financial means to make it a very good collaboration. I would say this was highest-level film production for a high-end series, and a co-production which you could feel all the partners were passionate about, and experienced enough to know what was essential, and what was not. It was a very mature way of collaborating. It was a joy.”