Ongewisse tijd

The documentary begins with a dramatised reconstruction of the sea voyage by Hartog Simon Pos and his brother Matthijs in the year 1774. They were on their way to Suriname. Nearly two hundred years later, Diego Pos made a trip in the opposite direction: he was the last Pos to leave Suriname. In Ongewisse tijd, Pos returns to Suriname in search of the history of his Jewish family and of Suriname Jews in general. He happens upon unexpected relatives, like Simon Matthijs, who was born out of a slave in the eighteenth century. The search and encounters with various representatives of Jewish communities in Suriname run synchronous with the dramatised story of the brothers Hartog Simon and Matthijs, whose initially close relationship was seriously dampened by love affairs.

Directed by Diego Pos, Ongewisse tijd leans on a strong ensemble — Ofra Beenen, Noa Eyl, Dimitri Ivanov — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2006.