Is Heaven Blue?#2

2023

Synopsis

"Is Heaven Blue?" is a 2023 animated experimental short documentary directed by Menno and Paul de Nooijer. This 20-minute stop-motion film serves as a poignant and playful farewell, reflecting on the passage of time and its impact on a creative family. Through a blend of animation and documentary elements, the film portrays the transition from youth to old age, and from health to illness, capturing the melancholy and uncertainty that accompany these changes. It stands as a testament to the family's fifty years of artistic collaboration, offering a deeply personal narrative that resonates universally.

Festivals

Credits

FILM: Paul de Nooijer and Menno de Nooijer

MUSIC & SOUND:

Øyvind Blikstad

PRODUCER:

Françoise de Nooijer. Trollfilm: Anita Killi and Lillian Løvseth

COLOR GRADING:

Laurent Fluttert

EDITING ADVICE:

Thomas Østbye

TYPOGRAPHY:

Henrik Barends

PRODUCED WITH SUPPORT FROM:

Tri-Eye, Françoise de NooijerØstnorsk Filmsenter AS by Terje NilsenFond for Lyd og BildeOCW Projectsubsidie van het Vevam Fonds

THANKS:

Anita KilliIngebjørg Torgersen, Kristoffer Fagerli, Rosa de Nooijer, Jerry Musser, Gerben SchermerIzhar Elias, Anneke Pijnappel, Voetnoot Publishers, Peter Delpeut

Menno de NooijerPaul de NooijerTri-Eye, S-Heer Abtskerke The Netherlands, Trollfilm, Dovre Norway

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Mission

"Is Heaven Blue?" seeks to explore the profound themes of aging, memory, and the passage of time through an innovative blend of stop-motion animation and documentary storytelling. The film endeavors to reflect on the universal human experiences of loss, transformation, and familial bonds, presenting them through a deeply personal lens.

By capturing the delicate interplay between life and art, the filmmakers aim to evoke a sense of introspection in viewers, encouraging them to contemplate their own journeys and the connections that define their lives. The film uses its experimental visual style and poignant narrative to challenge traditional storytelling, creating an emotional space for audiences to navigate the beauty and melancholy of change. Ultimately, "Is Heaven Blue?" aspires to leave an indelible impression of vulnerability and artistic resilience, resonating with anyone who has experienced the inevitability of time.

About the film

"Is Heaven Blue?" is an experimental animated short film that merges the art of stop-motion with the intimacy of documentary storytelling. Directed by Menno and Paul de Nooijer, this 20-minute film serves as a reflection on life’s transitions, encapsulating the bittersweet essence of time’s passing.

The film’s striking visual language and inventive animation techniques create a dreamlike atmosphere, drawing viewers into its tender exploration of familial bonds and creative legacy. At its core, "Is Heaven Blue?" is a tribute to fifty years of shared artistic expression, capturing the interplay of joy and melancholy in life’s impermanence.

Blending personal narrative with universal themes, the film invites audiences to reflect on their own memories and relationships while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of creativity.