Narcosis
About this Film
A moving universal story about love and loss. A close-knit family is disrupted when the adventurous, eccentric and fun father fails to resurface during a dive in one of the world’s deepest underwater caves (in the Karoo, South Africa). No funeral, no goodbye, just a quirky old house full of memories. Merel evades her husband’s death and prefers not to use her psychic abilities to try and communicate with him. Her young children meanwhile become entangled in their own search for answers as the family grapples to face the loss and start a new life together in their own unique ways.
Strong character chemistry and compelling performances provide Narcosis with a mature and refreshing authenticity in the family’s approach to grief and their changed world. Meticulously crafted, brilliantly filmed, with sensitivity and gentleness, Narcosis won four Golden Calf awards at the Netherlands Film Festival and was in 2023 selected as the Dutch submission to the Academy Awards.
Reviews
Martijn de Jong has created one of the most poignant and stirring films of the year; a delicate, touching story about love, loss and acceptance. Impeccably done!
International Feature.com
The sensitive approach, eloquent visuals and superb casting mark the arrival of a talented filmmaker.
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter
Everything works perfectly in this film; it is such a romantic, comforting, lovely and cinematic piece of work.
Bumanfroukje, IMDB
This is it. It’s been a long time that a movie has touched me so deeply, and on such a personal level.
Nadja, Letterboxd
“I’ll see you in the white room”
John, Merel’s husband