Good Neighbours / Goede Buren (NL)
A film by Stella van Voorst van Beest
Loneliness hides behind closed doors and around every corner. But can you fight it without facing your own fear of death?
Synopsis
When Rotterdam citizen Bep de Bruin is found dead in her home, lying there unnoticed for 10 years, the city is in shock. How could this happen? Ada (59) and her best friend Wilma (70) decide to volunteer for the local government’s response: a campaign against loneliness. Together, they go door to door to check in on elderly citizens, looking for lonely people that fit the profile and need help.
This is how they meet Jan, who has barely left his home in seven years. In fighting to stay independent, his loneliness intensifies, and Ada and Wilma are upset by his insufficient quality of care. They also encounter Tilly, a strong and stubborn woman who has contact with no one but her beloved dog, and refuses every offer of support.
Overwhelmed by the loneliness they encounter, and by their fear for what this means for them and their city, Ada and Wilma stop observing — and take action.
This is how they meet Jan, who has barely left his home in seven years. In fighting to stay independent, his loneliness intensifies, and Ada and Wilma are upset by his insufficient quality of care. They also encounter Tilly, a strong and stubborn woman who has contact with no one but her beloved dog, and refuses every offer of support.
Overwhelmed by the loneliness they encounter, and by their fear for what this means for them and their city, Ada and Wilma stop observing — and take action.
watch the film
Screenings and media
Worldpremiere at IDFA on November 17th 2018. Selected for IDFA Competition for Dutch Documentary.
In 2019 we organised screenings of Good Neighbours in collaboration with municipalities throughout the Netherlands in combination with Good Conversations with experts about topics like loneliness among the elderly.
In 2019 we organised screenings of Good Neighbours in collaboration with municipalities throughout the Netherlands in combination with Good Conversations with experts about topics like loneliness among the elderly.
presskit
Additional information
In collaboration with the Dutch broadcaster HUMAN.
With financial support of Dutch Cultural Media Fund, Netherlands Film Fund, NPO Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, VSBfund and Van Leeuwen van Lignac Foundation.
GOOD NEIGHBOURS participated in the Dok Incubator workshop 2018.
With financial support of Dutch Cultural Media Fund, Netherlands Film Fund, NPO Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, VSBfund and Van Leeuwen van Lignac Foundation.
GOOD NEIGHBOURS participated in the Dok Incubator workshop 2018.
Credits
DIRECTOR Stella van Voorst van Beest
CAMERA Ton Peters, Sander Snoep, Mick van Dantzig
SOUND Eric Leek, Carla van der Meijs, Mark Wessner, Kees de Groot
RESEARCH Manon van der Sluijs
EDITOR Nicole Hálová, André van der Hout, Riekje Ziengs
CONSULTING STORY EDITOR Phil Jandaly
SOUND DESIGN Jan Willem van den Brink, Ferry de Pater
GRAPHIC DESIGN Suzanne Keilhack
COLORIST John Thorborg
COLOURGRADING Storm post production
OFFLINE & EXPORTS Laurent Fluttert, Matte Mourik, Jan Jaap Kuiper/Amator
TRANSLATION & SUBTITLES Michael Gebe, Einion
LEGAL SERVICES Monique Kooijman, Denkk
SCRIPT & EDITING ADVISOR Mart Dominicus
IMPACT DISTRIBUTION Jelte Zonneveld, Bernadette Kuiper
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT & TRANSCRIPTIONS Anouk Houtman, Veerle Boekestijn
POSTPRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Maarten de Graaf, Milestone Amsterdam
LINE PRODUCER Eline van Wees
HUMAN COMMISSIONING EDITOR Willemien van Aalst, bert Janssens
DISTRIBUTION Cinema Delicatessen
PRODUCER BASALT FILM Simone van den Broek
COPRODUCER Human
CAMERA Ton Peters, Sander Snoep, Mick van Dantzig
SOUND Eric Leek, Carla van der Meijs, Mark Wessner, Kees de Groot
RESEARCH Manon van der Sluijs
EDITOR Nicole Hálová, André van der Hout, Riekje Ziengs
CONSULTING STORY EDITOR Phil Jandaly
SOUND DESIGN Jan Willem van den Brink, Ferry de Pater
GRAPHIC DESIGN Suzanne Keilhack
COLORIST John Thorborg
COLOURGRADING Storm post production
OFFLINE & EXPORTS Laurent Fluttert, Matte Mourik, Jan Jaap Kuiper/Amator
TRANSLATION & SUBTITLES Michael Gebe, Einion
LEGAL SERVICES Monique Kooijman, Denkk
SCRIPT & EDITING ADVISOR Mart Dominicus
IMPACT DISTRIBUTION Jelte Zonneveld, Bernadette Kuiper
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT & TRANSCRIPTIONS Anouk Houtman, Veerle Boekestijn
POSTPRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Maarten de Graaf, Milestone Amsterdam
LINE PRODUCER Eline van Wees
HUMAN COMMISSIONING EDITOR Willemien van Aalst, bert Janssens
DISTRIBUTION Cinema Delicatessen
PRODUCER BASALT FILM Simone van den Broek
COPRODUCER Human
