The Legacy (2016)

Directed by: Joris Postema | 85 minutes | documentary

‘The legacy’ is about Daan van der Elsken. For those to whom this name rings a bell: yes, it is indeed related to… Daan, born in 1963, is the son of the famous photographer and filmmaker Ed van der Elsken (1925 – 1990). Of course, having a world-famous father alone is not a valid reason for making a film about your life, but in Daan’s case there is more to it. Daan is depressed, manic depressive. He has been struggling with this disease for fifteen years and is looking for the cause of it with his father. At the start of the documentary, he decided that he would write down his story as a form of therapy. Good friend and filmmaker Joris Postema proposes that he simultaneously make a film about Daan and the search for the influence of his father on his life. Daan agrees and the result is ‘The legacy’.

‘The legacy’ is interesting on several fronts. First of all, there is the interaction between Daan and his friend Joris, which shows, for example, that Daan looks more like his father than he had previously thought. Daan doesn’t really want to hand over the direction – on several occasions he gives directions to his friend and sometimes he even keeps the boat off while filming. Understandably, when his illness reaches a new low, he wants to come out of the agreements made, but Joris persists, which shows not only his craftsmanship, but also his unconditional friendship.

Second, there is the relationship between Daan and his daughter Zea. As someone with an unhappy childhood – because that’s how Daan feels – he insists on doing his fatherhood differently and in that sense he is the opposite of Ed. “But,” he admits, “I may have claimed her way too much.” In the film you witness the well-meaning mistakes that Daan makes in his communication with his daughter, but you also see how much he loves her.

But ‘The Legacy’ has even more to offer the viewer. It is a striking portrait of a debilitating disease, which fortunately has recently received more attention in the media and therefore comes out of hiding. Depression is terrible, debilitating and ruthless and although ‘The Legacy’ offers no solution – after all, that is not the intention – the film shows how important it is that the patient is listened to.

And finally, the purpose of the film. Does Dan find what he is looking for? Can his depression be traced back to the band, or rather the absent band, with his career-driven father Ed? The answer is already in the title. And a fitting and moving ending to this gripping, beautifully made film.