Afterlife (Hiernamaals)
SIFF's capsule summary: "Teenaged Sam is the family caretaker after her mother's death, but when Sam is killed in an accident, she finds her mother waiting in the hereafter and plots to get them both back to the realm of the living in this delightful and meaningful drama." (Netherlands, 2019, 93 minutes)
SIFF link: Afterlife
Sam (Sanaa Giwa) is the daughter of loving parents Vera (Romana Vrede) and Erik (Gijs Scholten van Aschat). Her mother's untimely death indirectly leads to her own death, followed by her meeting with afterlife "civil servant" Martin (Jan-Paul Buijs), who presents her with the choice of reincarnation or afterlife. She also meets Joke (a name that is pronounced "yokə", not like the English word "joke"; Ria Eimers), who had been Vera's friend in life.
Writer-director Willem Bosch did a very good job with the writing, and a good job with the directing. The mood of the directing matches the quirky script well. The acting by the leads is all good, and when Giwa and Vrede are on screen together they're very good. The score is excellent, matching the quirky tone of the film.
Overall, I rate the film good.
Languages: Dutch, with English subtitles. Annoyingly, the subtitles fuse phrases such as "a while" and "all right" together into dubious compound words such as "awhile" and "alright".
Rating: I don't think this film has a US rating (yet), but I'd guess it would rate a "PG-13", unless some language slipped past my notice.
Screening: 2 pm, Pacific Place (room 4).
Audience: a typical SIFF press screening crowd, around 100, about 285 seats (estimated capacity).
Snacks: none.
Ads and announcements: no ads at press screenings; SIFF volunteer "R" provided announcements, reminding press screening audiences of the rules of press screening. Volunteer "J", who shares press screening host duties, was also there. Volunteer "K" greeted at the door.
Notes to myself:
SIFF statistics: 1 film (a feature), 1 time slot, one party (donors' preview).