Born: 1931 (Voorburg, Netherlands)
Died: 2020
Lydia Chagoll (16 June 1931 – 23 June 2020) was a Dutch-born dancer, choreographer, film director, screenwriter, writer, and actress. Born as Lydia Aldewereld to Jewish parents in Voorburg, she had a remarkable life that encompassed various art forms and social activism.
During World War II, Chagoll and her family were forced to flee their home and ended up in a Japanese Internment Camp in Indonesia. In 1942, she was held in Tjideng and later transferred to Grogol in August 1943. After a year, she returned to Tjideng in August 1944. These harrowing experiences shaped Lydia’s worldview and later influenced her work.
Tragically, upon their return to the Netherlands, Chagoll’s family discovered that all their relatives had been killed during the Holocaust. This deeply personal loss further fueled her commitment to shedding light on injustice and advocating for those who suffered in silence.
In 1952, Chagoll adopted the stage name Lydia Chagoll and obtained Belgian nationality. She began her artistic journey by graduating from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and furthering her studies at the École Supérieure des Études Choréographiques in Paris. Impassioned by dance, she embarked on a career as a dancer and teacher.
Chagoll demonstrated her multifaceted talents by venturing into filmmaking. In 1977, she directed the documentary film In the Name of the Führer (In naam van de Führer), which received the André Cavens Award for Best Film from the Belgian Film Critics Association (UCC).
Driven by a strong commitment to social justice, Chagoll directed the influential film Voor de glimlach van een kind (For the Smile of a Child) in 1982, which shed light on the sensitive issue of child abuse. This endeavor sparked a nationwide campaign against child abuse in Belgium and led to the founding of SOS Enfants/SOS Kinderen in 1983, an organization dedicated to protecting vulnerable children.
In 2014, at the remarkable age of 83, Chagoll directed Ma Bister, a poignant film that exposed the persecution endured by the Romani community. Her work in shedding light on marginalized communities earned her the Prijs voor de Democratie (Price for Democracy).
Lydia Chagoll’s contributions to the arts and her dedication to social activism have left an indelible mark on Dutch and Belgian society. Her artistic endeavors and social campaigns have inspired future generations to confront injustice and fight for a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Awards:
– André Cavens Award for Best Film for In the Name of the Führer (1977)
– Prijs voor de Democratie (Price for Democracy) for Ma Bister (2014)