Not without you

2010 · 84 min

An intimate portrait of an elderly couple, painter Ger Lataster and photographer Hermine van Hall, filmed by their son and daughter-in-law. The documentary shows, from very close up, the final year that Ger and Hermine spend together after a marriage of 65 years. Everything that once seemed self-evident in their life begins to fall apart. Because of Ger’s deafness and Hermine’s dementia, misunderstandings pile up and their confusion grows. Yet in gardening, and especially in art, they still find a source of joy and comfort. Ger tries to keep painting while his muse Hermine becomes increasingly ill and disoriented. The moment of farewell draws inevitably closer. After Hermine’s death, returning to painting becomes a matter of survival for Ger. Not Without You is an ode to love and to the power of art.

Awards and nominations

  • Nederlands Film Festival 2011 · Golden Calf Best Feature Documentary

  • Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival 2011 · Grand Prix · Student Jury Award

  • Pärnu International Documentary Film Festival 2011 · Best Portrait

  • Shanghai TV Festival 2011 · Nomination Magnolia Award

  • East Sarajevo International Documentary Film Festival 2011 · Gold Medal

  • Mental Health Film Festival Edinburgh 2013 · Best Feature Documentary

Credits

  • Screenplay, production and direction · Petra and Peter Lataster-Czisch

  • Editing · Mario Steenbergen

  • Camera · Peter Lataster

  • Sound · Tom d’Angremond

  • Sound design · Hugo Dijkstal

  • Line producer · Marty de Jong

  • Broadcaster · Human

  • Producer · Petra and Peter Lataster-Czisch for Lataster&Films