Jan's Mom

The mother of 11-year-old Jan is in prison. She's been incarcerated for a year and still has about 18 months to go. So how does that affect Jan's day-to-day life? Well, he can't call her when he feels like it. And she can't pick him up from school, or answer the questions he so wants to ask. Questions like "What's it like in prison?" Anneloor van Heemstra has made an intimate impression of a few days in Jan's life. If there's something he wants to tell his mother, he records it. "Hi, Mom, it's Jan." A discussion with his friends is particularly moving. "Do you think I've changed?" Silence. "Well, no. You do get angry more easily. But we understand why." The film takes place at a time when Jan wants to ask his mother how she's really doing - it's something he doesn't dare to ask. We see him preparing for a good talk with her. The excellent camerawork and the subtle shifts of perspective and depth of field create a dreamy atmosphere that complements Jan's obvious vulnerability. Van Heemstra shows that, despite everything, the boy hasn't lost his childhood innocence. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)