After Holly, 15, seems to have predicted a deadly school fire, all eyes are on her. Her teacher invites her to volunteer in the grieving community. Holly brings peace, warmth and hope. She seems to have an almost supernatural empathy. Is it real compassion or naivety? As a wallflower, she had lived an unnoticed existence. Suddenly, she now finds herself caught in a whirlwind she did not choose.
Genre: drama
Language: Flemish, subtitles: English
Holly is a normal fifteen-year-old girl. She doesn't have many friends, and she's not exactly the popular girl in her class. Only her sister and Bart, a neurodiverse boy, occasionally bring a smile to Holly's face. Her grades leave much to be desired, and when asked if she is bullied, she dryly replies, "sometimes." But her response to the bullying sets her apart. "I feel sorry for them," she tells a teacher.
This fascinating portrait of a girl who may or may not be supernatural is another example of Belgian director Fien Troch's intuitive and sensitive eye. It shows how addictive attention can be, and how an outcast struggles to find her way in a harsh world. Despite Holly’s possible supernatural powers, the film feels raw and real. It flirts with different genres, but refuses to be defined by one, breaking free of all comparisons. Newcomer actress Cathalina Geeraerts received critical acclaim for her role as Holly.
Awards
The film was nominated for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival.
Reviews
“A curious and clever film about a mysterious girl who may have otherworldly powers.” Deadline
“Enigmatic, deconstructed storytelling – as much a series of intense memory fragments as a linear narrative.” Screen Daily
“The film’s subtly permeating atmospherics constantly balance the banal with the possibly divine.” Variety
Ticket information
This film will be shown at Filmhuis De Zwarte Doos. Buying a ticket online in advance is mandatory if you want to attend this film. You can buy a ticket by clicking on the black “order” button on this page.
Please note: you can only buy a ticket online; tickets cannot be purchased with cash or bank card at the ticket counter.
For more general information about tickets, refund policies, etc., please click here.
Please be on time
The screening of the film starts at 19:30 sharp (no pre-film advertisements) and the cinema hall opens at 19:10. We kindly ask you to be at the ticket counter at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the film. This is to ensure the film starts and ends on time.
The Studium Generale film program is selected in collaboration with the Student Film Committee and Natlab.