Mijke de Jong

Mijke de Jong (born 23 September 1959) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter and producer. She is known for creating films such as Bluebird (2004), Frailer (2014), Layla M. (2016) and God Only Knows (2019). Layla M. was selected as the 2018 Dutch entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Mijke de Jong
Born (1959-09-23) 23 September 1959
Rotterdam, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter and producer

Early life

De Jong was born on 23 September 1959 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.[1] She moved in 1978 to Amsterdam, where she studied at the Netherlands Film Academy.[2] During her time as a student at the Netherlands Film Academy she was part of the Dutch radical activist group “Onkruit”. The group aimed its actions against the army, nuclear weapons and the weapons industry in general; they fought for an open (military) policy. She had to quit participating in order to remain a student at the Film Academy.[2]

Career

The themes in the films that De Jong directs relate to everyday life in society. Her work centres on topics including bullying, family problems, feeling as though you do not belong, and death. She portrays emotions that accompany these struggles. Her filming techniques are seemingly similar to the filming of a documentary. She uses many close-ups of the actors.[1]

Mijke de Jong joined a project funded by the Netherlands Film Fund (Nederlands Filmfonds).[3] With this project, filmmakers try to tighten the bonds with other film countries. This policy plan is intended to fill the financial gaps that small film productions have to deal with, to promote the Dutch scene as a place for filming and to create more opportunities for national actors.[3] In 2018, de Jong served on the jury for the Shooting Stars Award.[4]

Selected films

Layla M. (2016) is about a young Moroccan woman (played by Nora El Koussour) who was born and raised in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Against the wishes of her parents, she finds herself engaging more and more in radical Islamic activities and eventually flees to Jordan.[5] The film was selected as the Dutch entry for the 2018 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.[6]

Stages (Dutch: Tussenstand) (2007) represents the story of Isaac (Stijn Koomen), a child of divorced parents (Elsie de Brauw and Marcel Musters). Isaac is a very conserved person who does not speak much. His parents are concerned about his behaviour and decide to have a talk about him over dinner. This however leads to heated discussions about personal issues, resulting in disagreeing about everything the other has to say.[7]

Bluebird (2004) is a film made for television about bullying. Thirteen year old Merel (Elske Rotteveel) is a smart girl living in Rotterdam who is devoted to taking care of her disabled younger brother. This gives her classmates a reason to make fun of her.[8]

Broos (1997) is about five sisters (played by Marnie Blok, Lieneke le Roux, Maartje Nevejan, Leonoor Pauw and Adelheid Roosen) who come together to think of a present for the anniversary of their parents. Before being turned into a movie, this story had already being released in theatre in 1995.[9]

Love Hurts (Dutch: Hartverscheurend) (1993) tells the story of Loe (Marieke Heebink) and Bob (Mark Rietman), who are in a relationship but differ in many ways. The story takes place in Amsterdam during the 1990s and the film contains themes of conflict, love, race, change and commitment. It was written by Jan Eilander and Mijke de Jong.[10]

Filmography
Year Title Function Notes
2019 God Only Knows Director & Screenwriter Winner of one Golden Calf award[11]
2016 Layla M. Director & Screenwriter Selected as the Dutch entry for the 2018 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film[6]
Winner of two Golden Calf awards.[12][13]
2016 Stop Acting Now Director & Screenwriter A collaboration with Wunderbaum theatre collective.[14]
2015 Fiftyfifty Director [15]
2014 Brozer (Frailer) Director & Screenwriter [15]
2010 Joy Director Nominated for seven Golden Calves, won three.[16]
2008 Katia's Sister (Het zusje van Katia) Director Winner of the Golden Calf for Best Script and the Golden Calf for Best Supporting Actress.[17]
2007 Tussenstand (Stages) Director & Screenwriter Three Golden Calfs (Gouden Kalf) with Stages (Tussenstand), including best director.[18]
2005 Allerzielen Director Short Film[15]
2004 Bluebird Director Television film. Selected as the Dutch entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 78th Academy Awards[19]
2001 Uitgesloten Director [15]
1999 Lopen Director & Screenwriter [15]
1999 Kussen Screenwriter [15]
1998 Het labyrint Director Thirteen part television series[20]
1997 De gordel van smaragd Screenwriter [15]
1997 Broos (Frail) Director & Screenwriter All five actresses won the Golden Calf for Best Actress[12]
1996 Lieve Aisja Director, Screenwriter & Producer [15]
1995 Stills Director & Screenwriter Short Film[15]
1995 Frans en Duits Screenwriter [15]
1994 The Four A.M. Feed Director [15]
1994 Still you Director [15]
1993 Hartverscheurend (Love Hurts) Director & Screenwriter At the Netherlands Film Festival, de Jong was awarded the Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek.[21]
1989 In krakende welstand Director & Screenwriter De Prijs van de stad Utrecht at the Netherlands Film Festival.[1]

Awards

References
  1. Kortum, Evelien. "Op scherp: Mijke de Jong". VPRO (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. Ede Botje, Harm and Sander Donkers. “Filmmaakster Mijke de Jong, nog altijd trots Archived 2016-11-17 at the Wayback Machine”. Vrij Nederland. August 23, 2008.
  3. Willems, Gertjan (2016). Over grenzen kijken. Het internationaliseringsbeleid van het Nederlands Filmfonds en de samenwerking met Vlaanderen. Ons Erfdeel, vol. 59 (nr. 3), pp. 131.
  4. "EFP Announces the Jury for the 21st Edition of EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS in 2018". European Film Promotion. 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  5. Tobias, Scott, Toronto Film Review: Layla M. Archived 2017-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, Variety (September 9, 2016).
  6. Keslassy, Elsa (5 September 2017). "Mijke de Jong's 'Layla M.' Is Dutch Entry in Foreign-Language Oscar Race". Variety. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  7. Verstraten, Peter, Humour and Irony in Dutch Post-War Fiction Film. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press (2016) 131/132.
  8. Foundas, Scott (2004-10-05). "Review: 'Bluebird'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  9. Elley, Derek, “Frail (Broos)”, Variety, March 30 – April 5 (1998) 67.
  10. Rooney, David, “Hartverscheurend (Love Hurts)”, Variety, February 21 – February 24 (1994) 49.
  11. "Beste Acteur ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  12. "Beste Actrice ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  13. "Beste Mannelijke Bijrol ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  14. Levine, Sydney (7 December 2017). "Oscar® Entry from The Netherlands, 'Layla M', an Interview with Writer-Director Mijke de Jong". Medium. Sydney's Buzz. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  15. "Mijke de Jong - vpro cinema". VPRO (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  16. "Joy ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  17. "Gelijkspel bij uitreiking Gouden Kalveren". Parool (in Dutch). 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  18. De wereld draait door. ‘Mijke de Jong Archived 2016-11-16 at the Wayback Machine’. Vara.
  19. "The blue bird will not fly". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  20. "Mijke de Jong: Acteurs moeten vrijheid hebben". Filmkrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  21. "Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  22. "Beste Regie ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  23. "Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  24. "Katia's Sister (Het Zusje Van Katia)". Walker Art Center. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  25. "Love hurts". SNG Film. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
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