Eva Sjerps Documentary Film
 

I’ve come to believe that the moments that matter are often small and easy to miss: seeing my child happy, a shared glance of connection, the feeling of sand, the taste of sea salt, the golden Spanish evening light, and being part of something larger. This is what I'm trying to capture in ODE. Not the story of what happens to us, but the moments in between, where life is, with everything it holds.

The golden moments in life! Today my youngest turns 2. I don't film to capture everything perfectly, but to hold on to the feeling. The look, the touch, the laughter, the love.

This is my favorite part of the ‘Dutch Masters Of The 21st Century’ documentary I made, about Dutch artist Claudy Jongstra. This is such a special place: old authentic ground in Friesland, which has been taken care of with much love and attention. I was here alone for a bit, but I did not feel alone. It felt full of life, visible and invisible.

Subconscious dance of feet. While Sam (aged 5 here) is captivated by the screen, he is physically very active without realizing it. It’s like all the energy and emotions of the screen are being expressed in this. Now he doesn’t do this the same way anymore. I like to see how young kids use their body so unconsciously, free, expressive and flexible, the way you won't see a grownup move.

Perspective. (Original version with son, no longer online) Two worlds in front of one screen. Sam is busy keeping Mario Bros alive and Rosie the cat, because of her hunting instinct, also following Mario’s every move. I have heard that cats hunt in their heads and because of that can spend hours looking out the window observing the movements of the birds. I find it funny that those two worlds of Sam and Rosie come together in front of the same screen. In film it is all about

I find beauty in all sky’s and all kind of weather. Clouds in the sky, the forms and colors, the light, the sun, the moon, the movement of the wind, it puts me at ease. I feel connected to life and to our beloved daughter Noa who, although she is not physically with us anymore, aI feel her as part of the whole. In gray skies I look for definition, for movement, for form, something that reminds me of life.