Tag Archives: Marijn Poels

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The Uncertainty Has Settled (2017) – Review

Recensie The Uncertainty Has Settled

Having a different view on a particular subject can sometimes be difficult. For example, if all the reviews for a specific movie are positive, do you dare to have a different opinion, and if so, are you looking forward to the reactions you will get on it? Now, movie reviews obviously are not world-changing, but this concept of a large consensus also applies in professional environments. There are plenty stories to be found in history of this, for example in the field of health care, in which major breakthroughs weren’t looked at seriously by anyone, simply because they deviated from the general opinion. For example, Ignaz Semmelweis suggested, in response to more women dying in one of two clinics he worked at, that doctors needed wash their hands because in one of them doctors went straight from the morgue to child delivery without cleaning up. It’s something which now may seem obvious, but it took him a lot of effort to convince others. Everyone was so stuck in a way of thinking that they were no longer open to another idea. Lees verder

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Ageless Friends (2016) – Review

Ageless Friends review

Although our bodies eventually will give up on us, we are only truly gone from this earth if no one remembers us anymore. The number of soldiers who died during the second world war is huge. You only have to look at all the crosses on the American military cemetery Margraten in the Netherlands to get an idea as 8301 men and women have been buried there. Although the crosses do have names on them, most of these people have been forgotten, simply because they don’t have any family left. This also was the case for Private First Class James E. Wickline.

That all changed because of Maarten Vossen, who, after seeing Saving Private Ryan, became interested in the second world war and decided to adopt a grave. At age 13 he was assigned Wickline’s. It would be the start of a long search of the story behind the name and the grave. In Ageless Friends he is followed during his final steps in this journey. Continue reading →

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My Filmviews interviews… Director Marijn Poels

Interview Marijn Poels

Marijn Poels is director of By Choice or Change (my review of it can be found here), which shows the difficulties single mothers have to go through in Vietnam. He also is a very active documentary maker. More info on his work can be found on his website.

In the west the image of single mothers is something everyone expects and it’s something which doesn’t stand out. By Choice or Chance shows that the situation isn’t like this all over the world. What’s the goal you want to reach with this documentary?
The movie will get its world premiere on March 8th (International Women’s Day) in 24 different countries and 46 different cinemas. Even in countries as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and India where there is still a lot of inequality between men and women. The goal of this film to give women in those countries the courage to step out of the traditional thinking and fight for their rights. In the interest of equal rights and their children. I hope it will inspire women and make them think. For single mothers in the Netherlands and Europe this is a recognisable story which we had to go through in the sixties/seventies. Still the story this movie tells remains something which is beautiful to watch as it’s about the love between mother and child. Continue reading →

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By Choice or Chance (2013)

In the western world the term single mother doesn’t raise much eyebrows. Chances are that you know at least one single mother and it’s something which has become something normal. These women have decided to take care of their children alone and (usually) succeed in having a working career and given their kids the affection they need. Our society allows it and there are enough options in regards to daycare to make it possible.

This isn’t the case in big parts of the world as this documentary clearly shows. Shot in Thailand, it paints a picture of a culture where the man is the pillar which holds the “house of the family” together. Being a single mother is not accepted in the Vietnamese culture and parents are ashamed should their daughter make that choice. It takes a lot of determination by single mothers to make that step and fight for their equality and empowerment. Director Marijn Poels talks to three women who stood up, fully aware of the consequences their decision might have. Continue reading →