Kiss (2009)

Directed by: Joost van Ginkel | 10 minutes | drama | Actors: Koen Dobbelaer, Margien van Doesen, Thijs Römer

‘Kiss’ revolves around an extensive shave, with which Bruno says goodbye to his father Daan (Thijs Römer) in a therapeutic way. Daan is about to be sent to a distant military mission. In this short film, director and writer Joost van Ginkel integrates beautiful and very artistic close-ups that, in combination with the light piano music, provide a cinematic but sad overall picture. In between, we see images of a playing Bruno, with which the filmmakers show in an ingenious but also practical way how Daan is doing on his mission.

‘Kiss’ has few environmental images left behind on a single supporting shot in the house. The close-ups are central, so that there is peace in the images and the impact is all the greater. Beautiful acting by Römer who clearly knows how to deal with children and how to conjure up (probably unacted) facial expressions on the face of Bruno (Koen Dobbelaer) in a natural way. A constant knowing look of farewell on Romer’s face gives ‘Kiss’ an extra ominous character.

‘Kiss’ by Joost van Ginkel was the only Dutch short film selected for the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, founded by Robert De Niro. The film was made in memory of the fallen soldiers in Afghanistan.