Directed by:
Sacha PolakScreenplay:
Helena van der MeulenCinematography:
Daniël BouquetCast:
Hannah Hoekstra, Hans Dagelet, Rifka Lodeizen, Mark Rietman, Eva Duijvestein, Barbara Sarafian, Ward Weemhoff, Ali Ben Horsting, Elske Rotteveel (more)Plots(1)
A tale of a young woman’s compulsive and transgressive sexual behavior that features ample shots of its characters’ nether regions, Hemel at first feels like a Dutch female version of Shame. But helmer Sacha Polak’s debut pays equal attention to the complex family bonds that underlie its protag’s psychological makeup and inform her actions. Hemel (which means “Heaven” in Dutch) knows that her bond with her father is rock-solid, though both are unaware that their rapport often feels closer to a de-facto marriage than a healthy parent-offspring relationship. This beautifully lensed look at the moment just before a daughter has to let go of her father belongs to stunning newcomer Hannah Hoekstra. Her Hemel is impulsive and rude, supremely confident but also fragile and needy. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
(more)Cast
![Hannah Hoekstra](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/765/157765893_bcf38e.png)
Hannah Hoekstra
Netherlands
Best movies:
Arthur & Claire (2017)
Arne Dahl-upp till toppen av berget (2012) (series)
Sub. Sam (2012)
![Hans Dagelet](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/572/158572692_1100c7.jpg)
Hans Dagelet
Netherlands
Best movies:
Amsterdamned (1988)
De brief voor de koning (2008)
The Lift (1983)
![Rifka Lodeizen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/079/160079807_d72cdc.jpg)
Rifka Lodeizen
Netherlands
Best movies:
Simon (2004)
Boys (2014) (TV movie)
My Queen Karo (2009)
Mark Rietman
Netherlands
Best movies:
Character (1997)
Riphagen: The Untouchable (2016)
Ober (2006)
Eva Duijvestein
Netherlands
Best movies:
Simon (2004)
Bro's Before Ho's (2013)
Hemel (2012)
![Barbara Sarafian](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/781/160781259_1ed267.jpg)
Barbara Sarafian
Belgium
Best movies:
Zillion (2022)
Moscow, Belgium (2008)
Bullhead (2011)
Ward Weemhoff
Best movies:
Cobain (2018)
Hardcore Never Dies (2023)
My Queen Karo (2009)
Ali Ben Horsting
Netherlands
Best movies:
Daylight (2013)
Manslaughter (2012)
The Day My Father Became a Bush (2016)
![Elske Rotteveel](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/264/160264099_c8300c.jpg)
Elske Rotteveel
Netherlands
Maarten Heijmans
Netherlands
Best movies:
Van Der Valk (2020) (series)
Storm - Letter of Fire (2017)
Hemel (2012)
Abdullah El Baoudi
Morocco
Best movies:
Hemel (2012)