Katia’s little sister (2008)

Directed by: Mijke de Jong | 85 minutes | drama | Actors: Ian Bok, Fred Goessens, Jennifer Jago, Chico Kenzari, Olga Louzgina, Betty Qizmolli, Rogier Schippers, Julia Seijkens, Tatiana Sharkova, Tara van den Kerkhof

After making a good film that gets acclaimed from all sides in the press, it’s hard to match your success. After all, the chance of being disappointed is many times greater than the chance that you will have another great success. Mijke de Jong did manage to deliver a very beautiful film after ‘Intermediate’. ‘Katia’s sister’ is not inferior to the award-winning ‘Between Stand’ at several film festivals and certainly has the potential to win prizes.

Lucia introduces herself to everyone as Katia’s sister. She does this not so much out of insecurity or inferiority, but out of love for her sister. This sisterly bond is so strong that Lucia considers ‘being a sister’ as her most important task. Whether sister dear Katia is such a good example for the sweet, innocent Lucia is open to question. The strip lesson she gives to her thirteen-year-old sister and the fact that she takes her sister to the strip club don’t work in her favor. Nevertheless, the fact that the sisters’ love is unconditional radiates from all sides.

The quality of Mijke de Jong is that she is so close to the characters, in this case to Lucia, Katia’s sister. The camera never lets go of Lucia’s face and that gives the story that little bit extra that makes the film so impressive. She is so close to the characters that it grabs the viewer by the throat.

Betty Qizmolli is innocence itself and is perfectly cast for the role of Lucia. The scene in which she supposedly takes care of her sister and mother who are in bed, when in reality there is no one in that bed, is the moment that the viewer finally loses his heart to her. You don’t wish life with a mother who is a prostitute, without a father and with a sister who works in a strip club and is addicted to drugs. And certainly not the sweet Lucia who has so much love to give, but who can’t share with the people she loves most.

The story contains few major events, which leaves all the more room for deepening the characters. Because there is no obvious event that heralds the end of the film, there is a danger that the director chooses to quickly make a happy ending or give it a dramatic turn. Both options would not be appropriate in this film, but fortunately Mijke chooses not to do this. In a hospital room, as white as the sky, the two sisters huddle together in bed. Their sisterly love conquers all, no matter how miserable their life is. With goosebumps on your arms, but with a good feeling the credits come into view.