Stijn Bouma

Six authorities of cinema describe their approach to transcendence, mysticism, spirituality and life after dead.

A stranger arrives in Sarajevo and barges into Damir's reclusive world. Little by little she takes over his life. She absorbs his dreams, until finally she threaten his very existence.

Meral Özturk is driven to despair when the Dutch Tax Authority wrongfully demands a massive repayment of childcare benefits. As her life falls apart, she discovers a social investigator infiltrating her life, forcing her to make radical decisions to protect her daughters.

Lejla, a young woman from Sarajevo, takes care of her elderly father and feels stuck in her life. One day she meets Vedad and they fall in love. He offers her the chance of leaving with him, but she's unsure of what's best for her future.

Widower Amir searches for memories of his wife. Diving into the past, he forgets he also has responsibilities towards his young daughter.

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There is a meal on the fire. The cat walks across the table. In one smooth shot, we see there is still warmth in the large, secluded house of fresh widow Thea. Still, her son is worried about her. One stormy day, he drops by to check how his mom is doing. Wouldn’t it be better if she moved to a nursing home or if he arranged home care? Thea resolutely rejects all suggestions. She does not need more care, she claims. The question is if this is really the case.

In the documentary Alone Against the State, five mothers who became victims of the Dutch childcare benefits scandal share the chilling stories of how their lives and that of their children were destroyed by a state system deprived of humanity.