Director
Nathalie Teirlinck
Music (original)
Mirek Coutigny, An Pierlé
Cast
Koen De Bouw, Maaike Neuville, Cem Yayla, Alicia Andries, Willem Loobuyck, Monic Hendrickx, Tom Vermeir, Janne Desmet
Edition 2026
100'
-
2026
-
Drama
-
Format:
DCP
-
Dialogue:
Dutch
When grieving neurologist Bob moves into his late son's student room, the fifty-something finds himself living among his son's friends, habits and half-finished life. Nathalie Teirlinck's sophomore feature, with a captivating Koen De Bouw in the lead role, turns a father's unwillingness to let go into an intimate study of loss.
‘You can’t just clear him out,’ Bob shouts as his ex-wife empties out their late son’s student flat. We all grieve and find comfort in different ways. This is also true for the divorced neurologist, who, overcome by grief, immerses himself in his son’s student room and student life. Suddenly, Bob finds himself back amongst the students, getting to know his son’s flatmates and meeting his son’s suspected crush. Seven years after her poetic debut film Le passé devant nous, director and KASK alumna Nathalie Teirlinck returns with a unique, tender grief-themed drama – partly filmed in Ghent – about a man who stubbornly clings to the last remnants of his son. A simple yet clever screenplay penned by Teirlinck herself supports a tormented Koen De Bouw in the lead role. He shines as the confused, yet recognisable and endearing father. Amidst the student rooms and the belongings left behind, Bob learns that grieving, too, is an art in its own right.
FFG Talkies: Jonah Was Here
At the FFG Talkies on 9 October (Film Fest Café | 12:30), Nathalie Teirlinck and Koen De Bouw will be speaking about grief in film and their collaborative creative process as director and actor. Composers An Pierlé and Mirek Coutigny will also be joining them to discuss the role of music in portraying loss.
Image gallery
Credits
Directors
Nathalie Teirlinck
Music (original)
Mirek Coutigny, An Pierlé
Sound Designer
Michel Schöpping
Cast
Koen De Bouw, Maaike Neuville, Cem Yayla, Alicia Andries, Willem Loobuyck, Monic Hendrickx, Tom Vermeir, Janne Desmet
Scenario
Nathalie Teirlinck
Director of Photography
Myrthe Mosterman
Editors
Stijn Deconinck
Producers
Gilles Coulier, Gilles De Schryver, Wouter Sap
Production studios
De Wereldvrede
Distributor
Paradiso Filmed Entertainment NV
More info
Dialogue
Dutch
Countries of production
Belgium, The Netherlands
Year
2026
Filmography
Nathalie Teirlinck
Jonah Was Here (2026), Le passé devant nous (2017), Staring Girl (short, 2012), Venus vs. Me (short, 2010), Send All Your Horses (2009), Juliette (short, 2007)
Technical Specs
Format
DCP
