Memory Lane

Jelle de Jonge's 2024 Dutch film follows Jaap and Maartje, married nearly fifty years. Jaap no longer wants to do anything; Maartje, though she grows confused at times, insists on getting out. When a letter arrives from an old holiday friend, Maartje persuades her husband and the two set off. The narrative does not build the journey as an escape; it proceeds through the advance of her forgetfulness and what that does to them both. The playing is plain and the humour measured. The narrative does not turn ageing into a sad story; Maartje's willingness carries the film and Jaap's resistance is shown from an affectionate place. Who it's for: those who like quiet European drama and narratives about old age. Who it's not for: viewers for whom watching the course of dementia would sit heavily.