Gutmensch (2018)

Directed by: Sabine Lubbe Bakker | 10 minutes | short film, drama | Actors: Marjolijn van Heemstra, Zohre Norouzi

Look, a little humanity is no stranger to us, but when it comes down to it, do you open your door wide for someone who needs it? Are you giving up your freedom to help someone who doesn’t have a roof over his or her head? Marjolijn in ‘Gutmensch’ likes to see herself as a benefactor. She is eager to help, so when she makes contact with Zohre, a refugee from Afghanistan, she soon feels so involved that, after some hesitation, she offers her shelter.

‘Gutmensch’ holds up a mirror to the viewer. What would you do in such a situation? Are you turning your life around to improve someone else’s? Where do you draw the line? But above all: who are you to determine what someone else needs?

In ‘Gutmensch’ Marjolijn does her utmost to get Zohre’s life back on track, but what does Zohre really want? That scene at the end is the most impressive.

‘Gutmensch’ is based on true events: the friendship between theater maker and writer Marjolijn van Heemstra and Zohre Norouzi is real. Previously, ‘Zohre, an Afghan Dutch Soap’ was shown in Dutch theaters.