The Dutch Backyard

It’s that time of year again: EUROPE ON SCREEN! As you know, this little film festival is a tradition for me and Agung of the past few years—ever since it started to be held at least partially offline again. This year, of course, is no exception. In fact, I topped myself by creating my own schedule to better navigate through the films and venues—and mark which ones we’d like to watch. Let me tell you a little secret: this is actually one of the reasons I decided to go freelance—well, having all the time to do fun things outside of work.

It’s that time of year again: EUROPE ON SCREEN! As you know, this little film festival is a tradition for me and Agung of the past few years—ever since it started to be held at least partially offline again. This year, of course, is no exception. In fact, I topped myself by creating my own schedule to better navigate through the films and venues—and mark which ones we’d like to watch. Let me tell you a little secret: this is actually one of the reasons I decided to go freelance—well, having all the time to do fun things outside of work.

📷 Fujifilm X-T100 with Fujinon Aspherical Superb EBC XC 15-45mm lens

Screening Europe

Last week Agung and I started our rounds of screenings. This year we have become a whole lot less ambitious—well, he has, but I haven’t (lol)—and decided to take it slow with the screenings. On this day, we saw a Dutch film called Melk (dir. Stefanie Kolk). It is an interesting film about a woman who delivered a stillborn baby, yet somehow whose body remains producing a large amount of milk afterwards. It is a slow watch, so if you’re looking for action, I wouldn’t recommend this film.

During the weekday—while Agung was busy with work and I had some time off the office—I caught two separate films. The first one is Citizen Saint (dir. Tinatin Kajrishvili) on Monday. It is a Georgian film noir—my first one ever!—that depicts a religious allegory set in a small mining town. The second one is Der Fuchs (dir. Adrian Goiginger) on Thursday—which is a German film about the bond between an Austrian Nazi soldier and a fox who follows him from town to town as he finishes his missions. 

Last week Agung and I started our rounds of screenings. This year we have become a whole lot less ambitious—well, he has, but I haven’t (lol)—and decided to take it slow with the screenings. On this day, we saw a Dutch film called Melk (dir. Stefanie Kolk). It is an interesting film about a woman who delivered a stillborn baby, yet somehow whose body remains producing a large amount of milk afterwards. It is a slow watch, so if you’re looking for action, I wouldn’t recommend this film.

During the weekday—while Agung was busy with work and I had some time off the office—I caught two separate films. The first one is Citizen Saint (dir. Tinatin Kajrishvili) on Monday. It is a Georgian film noir—my first one ever!—that depicts a religious allegory set in a small mining town. The second one is Der Fuchs (dir. Adrian Goiginger) on Thursday—which is a German film about the bond between an Austrian Nazi soldier and a fox who follows him from town to town as he finishes his missions. 

Today, as you’re reading this, we plan to catch 1-2 more films and probably call it a wrap. I’m also planning to watch one of the films on MUBI, since I’ve seen it there earlier and decided it’d be an easier way to screen it. By the way, I have actually been vlogging my EoS experience this whole time, since I’m making a project out of every film that I watch—stay tuned next week to watch it! Hopefully, it’ll be ready by then. Alongside the vlog, I’ll will also have a full review ready by next week—as I always do every year. So watch this space!

Now back to the photos. These were taken before our first screening at the backyard of Erasmus Huis, the Dutch cultural centre. We decided to hang out here for a while before the studio opened. Agung and I have been in the habit of creating OOTD videos like this one—you might recognise the series on my Instagram—so we decided to do that first before the sun went down. Afterwards, we decided to visit Brightspot Mall for its last weekend run. I think we just wanted to check things out, but honestly, it was such a crowded chaos and I’m glad we didn’t go the previous week—because we heard it was much worse then.

Thrifted shirt + jacket + jeans // Sherchle cap // unbranded sandals // photos of me by Agung

Today, as you’re reading this, we plan to catch 1-2 more films and probably call it a wrap. I’m also planning to watch one of the films on MUBI, since I’ve seen it there earlier and decided it’d be an easier way to screen it. By the way, I have actually been vlogging my EoS experience this whole time, since I’m making a project out of every film that I watch—stay tuned next week to watch it! Hopefully, it’ll be ready by then. Alongside the vlog, I’ll will also have a full review ready by next week—as I always do every year. So watch this space!

Now back to the photos. These were taken before our first screening at the backyard of Erasmus Huis, the Dutch cultural centre. We decided to hang out here for a while before the studio opened. Agung and I have been in the habit of creating OOTD videos like this one—you might recognise the series on my Instagram—so we decided to do that first before the sun went down. Afterwards, we decided to visit Brightspot Mall for its last weekend run. I think we just wanted to check things out, but honestly, it was such a crowded chaos and I’m glad we didn’t go the previous week—because we heard it was much worse then.

Thrifted shirt + jacket + jeans // Sherchle cap // unbranded sandals // photos of me by Agung

Meanwhile This Week

Now, before any of that excitement happens next week, I also have some very exciting contents to share with you this week. Well, at least one. There’s a new vlog now up on my YouTube channel—it’s a ‘Week in the Life’ type of vlog! I don’t think I’d ever done that before. To be honest, it’s pretty random, but I tried to be more candid about my thoughts and feelings—especially about this whole freelance thing. Not to spoil the experience for you, but let me give you a little teaser: I’m basically revealing how I question my decision to do art full-time sometimes. You can watch the full video on my channel—or scroll down below where you can find an embedded video at the very end.

Are you watching Europe on Screen as well?
Which films have you watched and which are your favourites?

thanks for reading

Now, before any of that excitement happens next week, I also have some very exciting contents to share with you this week. Well, at least one. There’s a new vlog now up on my YouTube channel—it’s a ‘Week in the Life’ type of vlog! I don’t think I’d ever done that before. To be honest, it’s pretty random, but I tried to be more candid about my thoughts and feelings—especially about this whole freelance thing. Not to spoil the experience for you, but let me give you a little teaser: I’m basically revealing how I question my decision to do art full-time sometimes. You can watch the full video on my channel—or scroll down below where you can find an embedded video at the very end.

Are you watching Europe on Screen as well?
Which films have you watched and which are your favourites?

thanks for reading