Dear (2019)

Directed by: Vincent Groos | 17 minutes | short film, drama | Actors: Joke Emmers, Sien Eggers, François Beukelaers, Christine Verheyden, Marilou Mermans, Tine Balder

Thanks to the Covid_19 pandemic, there seems to be a little more appreciation for the nursing staff, but people who work in care always deserve all the respect. It is no surprise that within these ranks, as in any other industry, there are individuals who are slightly better at their craft than colleagues. In ‘Lieve’, the graduation film by the Flemish Vincent Groos, we follow such a topper: Lieve.

Lieve is a district nurse. On her moped she visits dozens of patients every day, who sometimes live very remote and depend on that one, short, daily visit. Lieve arranges the medication, for others she takes care of the personal hygiene, but there is always time for personal attention. Lieve is an expert in her field and patients, without exception, love her. Although of course there are always people for whom nothing is good enough, but Lieve knows how to deal with that.

The contrast with a colleague is perhaps a bit too much. While Lieve drives for miles on her moped through all kinds of weather, her colleague in an expensive convertible overtakes her and she transfers a difficult patient to Lieve, in such a way that the young woman cannot say ‘no’. And that’s exactly what ‘Lieve’ is all about: how far can you go in your work with your empathy and helpfulness? There is a limit for everyone. You have to, to protect yourself and ultimately your patients.

‘Lieve’ impresses with the strong playing of Joke Emmers, who turns the title character into a warm, young woman who you can only encounter with a sick family member or friend. That’s to be hoped. The visual language is just as strong: with few resources and a sophisticated eye for the setting, Groos creates a clear atmosphere. A beautiful tribute to an indispensable profession.