kus kus beng beng

Netherlands Film Academy - Directing Documentary & Production

In kus kus beng beng, a love portrait composed of home videos, photos, diaries, audio recordings and interviews, director Ollie Launspach explores the impact of his transition on his girlfriend Sterre Mulder. As he attempts to understand her emotional world, the chaos within his own mind gradually comes into view.

“My motivation for producing kus kus beng beng lies in telling a universal love story against the backdrop of a gender transition. As a producer, telling an intimate story that carries larger emotions and themes has been my guiding principle from the start of my studies up to now, and this is exactly where I want to continue growing. In this divided time, I hope our documentary contributes to greater mutual understanding and a softer gaze toward one another. Through film, I want to keep showing that we are all, at our core, simply human.”

Swaantje Kooijmans, producer

Watch the film here: kus kus beng beng | NPO Start

Recommendations

“From day one, the kus kus beng beng team placed collaboration above everything else. They were always open to dialogue and the final result is remarkable. The film surprises, unsettles, and touches the heart. Every creative resource was explored like shooting on 35mm, using archive material, car-mounted shots and stop motion. This resulted in a highly creative and authentic film made with energy, passion, and courage. An honest film that has been widely praised in the press and it deservedly so.”

Reinette M. Ho van de Stadt, lecturer in Production and graduation film coach at the Netherlands Film Academy

A project by:

Isa Sluis (production), Ollie Launspach (director) en Swaantje Kooijmans (production)