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Left Luggage

Released Feb 12, 1998 1h 40m Drama List
46% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Set in Antwerp, Belgium in the early 70s, "Left Luggage" tells the story of Chaja (Laura Fraser), an impetuous, liberal-minded philosophy student. She has a complex relationship with her parents, who both survived the Nazi concentration camps. She needs money so she gets a job as a nanny for a Hassidic Jewish family whose world is completely alien to her liberated lifestyle. She becomes close to their son and through this relationship learns about the lives of her own parents.

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Xan Brooks Independent (UK) Fitful as drama, the film comes to life as a showcase for its high-profile performers. Mar 29, 2019 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Left Luggage is one of those movies where the audience knows the message before the film begins and the characters are still learning it when the film ends. Rated: 2/4 May 11, 2001 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Rated: 2.5/5 Apr 20, 2001 Full Review Amy Bracken Sparks Cleveland Free Times The film has glaring plot holes and quite a few missteps, though it never loses it enigmatic charm. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 26, 2021 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 1/5 Jun 17, 2005 Full Review Luke Y. Thompson New Times While it would be too much to ask for a movie about Holocaust survivors to actually be happy, Krabb is way too heavyhanded in trying for a tragic atmosphere Rated: 2/5 Feb 16, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (59) audience reviews
Richard E This is a lovely film that depicts the entry of a young secular Jewish woman into the home of an ultra-orthodox Jewish family in Antwerp. Two Jewish women from very different backgrounds come to appreciate one another. Some critics found the film sentimental but I think it is very humane and inspiring. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Well-intentioned but laboured and somewhat cloying attempt at tragedy. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Una excelente película sobre como influyen las demas personas en la vida de uno si se les da la importancia debida! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Yo no creo que se convierta en un clasico internacional, ni que sea una gran pelicula. Creo que el filme es altamente predecible y que las situaciones se llevan corriendo en cuestion de dos minutos para que el espectador pueda entender e hilar su propia historia, que acaba siendo la misma que cuentan en la pelicula. La mayoria de las actuaciones son bastante atractivas, pero a veces tienden a caer en el melodrama televisivo o en la comedia-exageradamente-falsa. Es una pelicula linda que te conmueve y que ya sabes como va a acabar, que no esta de mal verla, pero el final se empieza a extender un poco mas de lo debido. Recomendable para gente con el corazon de miel o personas que quieran ver un tipo de cine diferente y melodramatico. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member LEFT LUGGAGE (2001) Cast Laura Fraser as Chaja Isabella Rossellini as Mrs. Kalman Maximilian Schell as Chaja's Father Marianne Sagebrecht as Chaja's Mother Jeroen Krabbe as Mr. Kalman Directed by Jeroen Krabbe Written by Edwin De Vries Drama, Indie Rated NR Intended For Mature Audiences 100 minutes | Roger Ebert May 11, 2001 | 0 Print Page "Left Luggage" is one of those movies where the audience knows the message before the film begins and the characters are still learning it when the film ends. No matter how noble a film's sentiments, it's wearying to wait while elementary truths dawn gradually on slow learners. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member i really enjoy this film have good actors and good history give me a good taste in my mounth Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Left Luggage

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Set in Antwerp, Belgium in the early 70s, "Left Luggage" tells the story of Chaja (Laura Fraser), an impetuous, liberal-minded philosophy student. She has a complex relationship with her parents, who both survived the Nazi concentration camps. She needs money so she gets a job as a nanny for a Hassidic Jewish family whose world is completely alien to her liberated lifestyle. She becomes close to their son and through this relationship learns about the lives of her own parents.
Director
Jeroen Krabbé
Producer
Ate de Jong, Hans Pos, Dave Schram
Screenwriter
Carl Friedman, Edwin de Vries
Distributor
Polygram, Castle Hill
Production Co
Greystone Films, Left Luggage BV
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 12, 1998, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.3M
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
1.66:1