Nouchka van Brakel

In 1984, Ate de Jong, Dick Maas and George Schouten founded The Directors, a band made up of movie directors. Later on, more directors joined and so did actors, actresses and singers. This documentary follows the band members at home, on the set, at rehearsals and during performances. It’s a story of friendship, opposing characters, growing old and ambitions and illusions. Anecdotes and archive films provide a hilarious flashback on the lives of the film friends. Time has treated them well. Everybody is or has been successful. To rough it all up, they decide to write a song that will be played at one of the band member’s funeral.

No synopsis available yet.

A young woman from Amsterdam decides to sell her one year old jeep on the street one day. A passer by on a bike helps her repair and charms her during this process. However, he shows no interest in buying the car.

No synopsis available yet.

The dutchified Hungarian Joszef Katús returns, after a months-long absence, to Amsterdam on 29 April 1966. The arrival of the Provos changed a great deal in the Dutch capital. The film follows Katús, mostly roaming the streets, in a loose documentary style. The events are set against the backdrop of four national occasions - The Queen's Birthday, Labour Day, Liberation Day and Remembrance Day.

The delicate story of the impossible love between an older married man and a fourteen-year old schoolgirl.

The delicate story of the impossible love between an older married man and a fourteen-year old schoolgirl.

Part of the anthology film Zwaarmoedige verhalen voor bij de centrale verwarming based on Heere Heeresma's darkly humourous short stories. This instalment is about a grocer who goes sailing with a postman whom he gets to know in a bizarre way. With Rijk de Gooyer and John Kraaijkamp Sr.

Two friends meet again in the autumn of their lives. They have not seen each other for years, but soon find their renewed friendship put to the test when one of them falls ill and the other loses his newfound love.

Short film, in which three boys want to go swimming on a Sunday afternoon, but one of the three has to look after his baby sister. They decide to take her to the park. The three of them come up with fun games to play with the baby, but they are constantly presented with new problems. However, the boys know how to find an answer to everything.

Short film, in which three boys want to go swimming on a Sunday afternoon, but one of the three has to look after his baby sister. They decide to take her to the park. The three of them come up with fun games to play with the baby, but they are constantly presented with new problems. However, the boys know how to find an answer to everything.

A devoted yet stressed out housewife takes a holiday to relax, and falls in love with another woman: a guitar-playing hippie who lives in a commune.

A devoted yet stressed out housewife takes a holiday to relax, and falls in love with another woman: a guitar-playing hippie who lives in a commune.

Feature film about the life of Aletta Jacobs (1854-1929). Aletta Jacobs knows from an early age that she wants to become a doctor. She asks Thorbecke to allow her to attend university and, after completing her studies, becomes the first female doctor in Amsterdam. Here, she focuses in particular on sexual problems in women and campaigns for universal suffrage. Director Nouchka van Brakel appears in the film as an interviewer who questions contemporaries about the life and work of Dr. Jacobs. The interviews give an impression of the flood of negative reactions that the feminist provoked. However, when Aletta looks back on her life at the end of the film, many photos and letters show how much she was ultimately appreciated.

Feature film about the life of Aletta Jacobs (1854-1929). Aletta Jacobs knows from an early age that she wants to become a doctor. She asks Thorbecke to allow her to attend university and, after completing her studies, becomes the first female doctor in Amsterdam. Here, she focuses in particular on sexual problems in women and campaigns for universal suffrage. Director Nouchka van Brakel appears in the film as an interviewer who questions contemporaries about the life and work of Dr. Jacobs. The interviews give an impression of the flood of negative reactions that the feminist provoked. However, when Aletta looks back on her life at the end of the film, many photos and letters show how much she was ultimately appreciated.

Short film about four boys who clash with the custodian of a construction site, because the growing number of buildings impedes on their playground. They devise all kinds of tricks to infiltrate the forbidden territory.

A series of four stories written by the Dutch writer Heere Heeresma, interpreted by four different directors. A confirmed bachelor bumps into his secretary after work. An old man just wants to be left alone at Christmas time. A former sailor yearns to get back to the sea, away from his clarinet playing wife. A shopkeeper in a rowboat gets into an argument with a postman on a bicycle.

Hedwig, a young wealthy woman growing up in the straight-jacket of bourgeois morality in the Victorian era, descends into madness after years of sexual repression and tragedy.

Hedwig, a young wealthy woman growing up in the straight-jacket of bourgeois morality in the Victorian era, descends into madness after years of sexual repression and tragedy.

Two women decide to exchange lives after getting into contact through a newspaper ad.

Two women decide to exchange lives after getting into contact through a newspaper ad.

No synopsis available yet.

Mary of Nazarene is one of the most popular female figures of our world's history. When feminist filmmaker and non-believer Nouchka van Brakel saw a painting of Mary, on which she was told that she would give birth to the Messiah, she was struck by Mary's rather reserved expression. Instead of happiness or humble devotion, the look on her face was doubtful. This fascinated Nouchka van Brakel, and led her to make AVE MARIA, a documentary on the one hand about this mythical, particularly beloved woman and on the other hand about her worshippers who make her Queen of Heaven. AVE MARIA portrays the untameable longing of mankind for the Mother of all mothers; from Virgin Mary, to Mother of the Son of God, to Lady of All Nations, to Queen of Heaven. What powerful emotions drive those devoted to Mary? Journeys to Turkey, Poland, Spain and The Netherlands gradually reveal the mystery.... A fascinating quest.