WINDOW [2023]
Inspired by a place I used to play as a kid, I made this short film about nostalgia and memories. I was curious about how a place can influence a person, given that thoughts about a specific location can be so subjective and rooted in emotion.
I wanted to express my fascination with nostalgia, specifically tied to a field where I often played with my friends. This field was surrounded by apartments, and while playing there, we always felt like we were being watched, creating a slight sense of alertness. Despite this, my memories of the field are dreamlike. I wondered why this was and how I could capture this feeling in a visual form.
Nostalgic memories often feel warm and fun, and in my mind, it was always summer on that field. But what exactly is nostalgia? Researchers say that powerful nostalgic memories can help us cope with life's transitions, provide comfort, and give us a sense of identity. When we encounter something associated with a happy memory, certain neurons in the brain dedicated to emotional processing are stimulated. This connection between memory and emotion is central to nostalgia.
I decided to base the script purely on my memories and not revisit the place before filming. My goal was to truly visualize nostalgia. I made the film short, like a flash of memory, and chose to let the surrounding buildings play a significant role, as they represent the ever-present reality that interrupts the nostalgic feeling, referring to the occupants of the buildings looking onto the field from a different perspective.
In the end, the main character is seen watching over the field from the apartment gallery, symbolically looking back on cherished memories.
CREDITS
CAST:
Small Boy – Simon Wolters
Soccer Players – Gijs Borninkhof, Nino Oosterwijk & Rohan Berendsen
CREW:
Writer, Director & Producer – Kjettil Gerritsen
Writing Assistance – Mees Bertelink
Director of Photography – Kjettil Gerritsen
Editor, Sound Designer & Colorist – Kjettil Gerritsen
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Nikki Velthuis
Helga Hogenkamp
