Gerrit van Dijk

The last words of the gangster Dutch Schultz form the starting point for this animated documentary. The FBI noted these words down on Schultz’ deathbed, in the hope he would betray his colleagues. Here, spoken in the english version by Rutger Hauer, they accompany the sober, pencil drawn animation based on traced (film) images from Schultz’ time: the late 1920s, early 1930s.

In the beginning there was a hand, and this hand drew other hands, then shoulders, heads, legs and finally, the animator himself. Inspired by a wide range of works of art and styles of illustration, this is a film which is constantly reinventing itself in one continual motion - after all, to draw a "still life" would be like creating an image without life.

A compilation of animated shorts, by 36 animators from 36 countries. Each animator worked independently, but a single theme unites them all: animation has no borders. The compilation is set to the music of "The Internationale".

An associative linking of erotic and pornographically suggestive transformations, whereby the unity is preserved by placing the action in a frame.

Two couples of dancing partners continually transform into different appearances, including numerous famous historical and pop culture characters.

The miracle of life takes place to the tune of the drinking song from Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. The game of love between man and woman as a prelude to the creation of new life: the birth and growth of Janneke, Gerrit van Dijk’s daughter.

Short film by Gerrit van Dijk 1998

Entertaining holiday slapstick: to be able to go on holiday quietly and carefree, a man not only leaves his dog, but also his goldfish, his cat, his houseplant and his wife.

Short film by Gerrit van Dijk 1969

Collage-like depiction of the life of a man, in which the protagonist prefers intimate childhood memories over earthly gain. About the sound of new shoes, walks with dad and the smell of elm wood.

Surrealist animation about two cubes who come alive against a constantly changing background. The cubes go through the process of growing up and getting older. They fall in love, make love, and conceive new cubes. The idyll ends cruelly in an all-destroying war.

The American president Jimmy Carter and the Chinese statesman Teng-Hsiao Ping sing together Alle Menschen werden Brüder. In the background is a poster by Mao Zedong, on which the Great Helmsman advertises Coca-Cola, Levi’s and Ford.

First film in the Blind Justice documentary animation series about women and the law. The film traces the Aristotelian concept of all men being created equal and the exclusion of women from this concept.

In a series of transformations, a boy with a football under his arm is transformed into increasingly aggressive-looking sportsmen.

Critique against the increasing urbanization. A static shot depicts the story of a butterfly whose living space is increasingly limited by the construction of houses and factories. New construction rapidly fills the green environment of the butterfly until it ends up on the wall, pinned up and framed.

Short film by Gerrit van Dijk 1968

The clip shows a film fragment in which the French film comedian Fernandel shuffles along the street sadly and apparently aimlessly. Colours are introduced onto the original black-and-white material with felt pens and needles.

A short animation in which characters from 39 paintings in the Frans Hals Museum move from one artwork to the next.

Emma Westermann's documentary shows the final six months in the life of Dutch animation grandmaster Gerrit van Dijk. Every night, he makes one drawing for his last animation films. A cinematic testament to one of the most distinguished Dutch film artists of our times.

Documentary about animator and artist Gerit van Dijk. The film follows van Dijk as he works on his film ‘I Move, So I Am’.