The Jewish Museum of Belgium invites you to discover a short film directed by Sarah Lederman, which draws its inspiration from the work of filmmaker Chantal Akerman, one of the artists featured in the “Four Sisters” exhibition.

Les Racines de l’eau (synopsis) : Two women, one Ashkenazi Jew from Poland and one Sephardic Jew from Algeria meet in Brussels with the same quest: to find out what their Jewish identity means to them. Their biggest desire is to undergo the water ritual called Mikveh. But they are not welcome in a bath house, being neither married nor orthodox. Nonetheless, they try to claim their heritage on a road trip and own their Judaism. 

Program : 

Doors open at 6:30pm 

Film screening from 7:00 pm 

Talk with Shabbes 24/7 Collective and Samuel Kujas (director of IMAJ) from 7:45 pm

Light Dinner from 8:30  pm to 10 pm 

Price: 10 euros (+ free admission to the “Four Sisters” exhibition)

free for students

Biography of Sarah Lederman : Sarah Lederman (1994) was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium. She is a film maker and studied both Documentary and Fiction at the The Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema & Sound (RITCS) in Brussels. She finished her Film MFA at Sint-Lucas Brussels with her short film ‘Les Racines de l’Eau’. At UK Jewish Film Festival 2022 she won the Best Short Film award.

‘Licht’, a children’s documentary for KETNET and VRT, which premiered at DOK LEIPZIG, recently won the Ensor for Best Short Film 2023. She just finished her fiction short film ‘Friday, 1st of July’. Both projects were subsidized by VAF.

She specializes in visual intimate stories through fine story telling, honest and pure with a considerate attention for detail. She has a great sensibility for capturing unfolding unique moments. Documentary and fiction film both fascinate her.