Let me hold you
Ever since she was a young girl Janine has felt responsible for her mentally disabled brother Albert-Jan. As he gets older, she sees her parents struggle more and more and decides it is time to take over the care for her brother officially. Now she can really be here for Albert Jan. But what does this new responsibility mean for her relationship with her big brother?
Just after his 50th birth day Janine (50) becomes the official administrator for her brother Albert-Jan. That this is not just a formality becomes evident quickly. Albert-Jan lives in a world of his own and cannot speak. Janine often has to take important decisions without knowing how he feels about them or being able to explain them to him. She is also the one to take him to treatment. Procedures that are the best for Albert Jan, but that clearly make him uneasy. Janine struggles with her new role both mentally and physically, because how can she make sure, even when she has to do all these things to him, she is still his sweet sister?
Janine gets through it, together with her sister Annette, with a sense of humor. But when covid hits The Netherlands and Albert-Jan’s group home gets cut off from the world, it becomes too much for her to handle. While Albert-Jan seems to do well under the relative peace and quiet of the lockdown, the question arises: what is left of their, at times, careless relationship?
- Director: Marinka de Jongh
- Research: Soraya Pol
- DOP: Wilko van Oosterhout
- Sound: Sam Huisman
- Editor: Luuk van Stegeren
- Line producer: Britte Hermans & Anna Beerstra
- Producers: Hasse van Nunen & Renko Douze
- Broadcaster: Human
- Duration: 55'
- Broadcast date: July 19th 2021
- With the support of NPO Fund & CoBO Fund
Let me hold you
Ever since she was a young girl Janine has felt responsible for her mentally disabled brother Albert-Jan. As he gets older, she sees her parents struggle more and more and decides it is time to take over the care for her brother officially. Now she can really be here for Albert Jan. But what does this new responsibility mean for her relationship with her big brother?
Just after his 50th birth day Janine (50) becomes the official administrator for her brother Albert-Jan. That this is not just a formality becomes evident quickly. Albert-Jan lives in a world of his own and cannot speak. Janine often has to take important decisions without knowing how he feels about them or being able to explain them to him. She is also the one to take him to treatment. Procedures that are the best for Albert Jan, but that clearly make him uneasy. Janine struggles with her new role both mentally and physically, because how can she make sure, even when she has to do all these things to him, she is still his sweet sister?
Janine gets through it, together with her sister Annette, with a sense of humor. But when covid hits The Netherlands and Albert-Jan’s group home gets cut off from the world, it becomes too much for her to handle. While Albert-Jan seems to do well under the relative peace and quiet of the lockdown, the question arises: what is left of their, at times, careless relationship?
- Director: Marinka de Jongh
- Research: Soraya Pol
- DOP: Wilko van Oosterhout
- Sound: Sam Huisman
- Editor: Luuk van Stegeren
- Line producer: Britte Hermans & Anna Beerstra
- Producers: Hasse van Nunen & Renko Douze
- Broadcaster: Human
- Duration: 55'
- Broadcast date: July 19th 2021
- With the support of NPO Fund & CoBO Fund