Waterlanders

“Waterlanders” is Simone van Dusseldorp’s 1994 graduation film from the Netherlands Film and Television Academy. It depicts two sisters coping with their parents’ death and constructing their own reality in an attempt to regain a sense of agency. While the sisters share an unbreakable bond, the older sister’s growing curiosity about the outside world strains their relationship as the younger sister resists these newfound changes.

Directed by Simone van Dusseldorp, Waterlanders leans on a strong ensemble — Maria de Booy, Miryanna van Reeden, Lisa Yves-Hoogkamer — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 0.