Long films

This is a list of films, longer than 15 minutes, that I have filmed in the Netherlands and abroad.

(Reminder: if available, for translation turn on the CC-button in the menu of the movie player and select your language)


Corpus Mama

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

Marcel took care of his mother for 18 years, 4 months, 6 days and 3 hours. It took him his job, his relationship with his girlfriend, his dream to marry one day and to become a father. For two years, filmmaker Jan Willem den Bok followed Marcel nursing for his mother. The documentary “Corpus Mama” shows the lonely and exhausting side of their relationship. A side that is hidden from many people. Marcel consciously chose to live in the shadows. To him, taking care of his mother is a mission of love. This is his Way of the Cross.

Good Morning South Sudan

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

(Don’t forget to turn the (CC) Subtitles on!)

The documentary ‘Good Morning South Sudan’ is a kaleidoscopic documentary that outlines the birth and growth of the world’s newest nation, South Sudan along the portrait of radio-DJ Philip James. The film shows the complicated development of a country by following the daily life of five South Sudanese citizens for a period of three years. Through the eyes of these five we see how the Southern Sudanese citizens face a nearly impossible task to become one united nation and above all, one people. None of these South Sudanese, ranging from young to old, with or without training, has a political agenda or pursues a higher ideal after the creation prevention of South Sudan. Each of them is fighting for his or her own existence, driven by pragmatism and self-interest, hoping that one day they will be able to live in happiness and peace.

We won the Golden Calf Award 2018
for best Script, Film and Actrice

(Golden Calf Award 2018 for best Script, Film and Actrice, Script: Jan Willem den Bok, Directed by Jaap van Heusden)

When we received the Golden Calf for Best Screenplay (the highest Dutch Film Award) for the film ‘In Blue’ in 2018, director Jaap and I opted for a little commotion in the room.

No Rio e no Mar

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

‘No no rio e mar!’ (Portuguese for ‘On the river and sea!’), is the eloquent cry from the residents of the island of Ilha de Maré, located in All Saints’ Bay in Brazil. The fishing community of this paradise is threatened by chemical industry from Petrobras, a large, state-controlled oil and gas company that wins oil on and around the island. Waters are polluted, fish and shellfish die. In this documentary Jan Willem den Bok and Floor Koomen portray the story of Eliete Paraguaçu and Marizelia ‘Nega’ Carlos Lopes, two militant women from the fishing community, who take it up against the polluting industries and lax government.

Bee Child

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

(Don’t forget to turn on CC Subtitles!)

Seven-year-old Ugandan boy Siriel dreams of going to school because he wants to become a priest later. He hopes one day he will pray the holy prayers in church and tell people about the Bible. But the reality is different: there is no money for school. Instead, he has to go to the bee field every day to care for the bees and harvest honey. The work makes him somewhat afraid, because a bee sting hurts a lot. But Siriel has to help his family of sixteen orphan-brothers and sisters cannot live without the income from bee honey.

The Four Walls of Dina

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

Dina el Gohary is 16 years old and lives in Cairo in an apartment she can never get out of. She hides for fanatic muslims who want to kill her and her father since they converted to christianity. Dina’s life is caged between four walls. She has no school or friends. The only person she has is her father. In a world wrapped in fear and boredom she tries to keep her dream alive of living a normal life. In this documentary we lived between the four walls of Dina for 20 days, to film how she manages to survive.

The Land of Milk and Misgano

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

The Ethiopian Jew Misgano tries to escape poverty by taking his wife and two sons to the Land of Milk and Honey, once promissed to his forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by God.

One Day

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

Everyday is the same for Jos, who lives together with his mother in an apartment. His daily life is neatly ordered by a small book that instructs him how to live from the moment he wakes up. But life can change.

One more time to the sea.

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

A year ago she was disappointed that she could no longer swim in the sea, now Adrienne (37) is happy when she can go to the beach with the children. Being able to do less step by step. For a young woman like Adrienne, MS is bad, but for her as a mother, it’s a disaster.

To The Top

(Broadcasted Dutch Television, Director/Camera/Edit: Jan Willem den Bok)

They have already defied the biggest mountain in their lives: Jort (21), Roel (27) and Marianne (18) have all had leukemia and conquered it. But for their fellow victims, they take on a 4808 meter high mountain once more: Mont Blanc.

© 2024

Thema door Anders Norén