A Long Goodbye is a moving, hand-crafted VR experience by Kate Voet and Victor Maes. You step into the life of Ida, a 72-year-old pianist confronted with dementia, and live through a single day made up of fragments of memory. By interacting with everyday objects in her apartment, a poetic puzzle of recollection unfolds: notes, photos, and sounds weave together past and present. The watercolour animation breathes craftsmanship. Every frame feels like a painting in motion, while the soundtrack is subtle and profoundly human. As a visitor, you are not merely a spectator but a fellow traveler in a tender yet urgent farewell between two life partners, where Daniel, who is also Ida’s caregiver, struggles to hold on to their connection. The world premiere took place at Venice Immersive, the VR section of the Venice Film Festival, where A Long Goodbye was honoured with the Achievement Prize. An extraordinarily resonant experience for anyone seeking to understand love, memory, and parting.
Credits
Year: 2025
Language: Dutch or English
Length: 30 min.
Director: Kate Voet, Victor Maes
Script: Kate Voet, Victor Maes
Music (original): Joep Beving
With: Derek de Lint, Marlies Heuer, Richard Wells, Elizabeth Counsell
Producer: Emmy Oost, An Oost
Production company: Cassette for Timescapes
Production countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands