John Appel

Documentary about the changing lives of people living in areas changed by disaster or war.

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A portrait of the Netherlands on the basis of wedding speeches, party meetings, funerals, public manifestations, political rallies and protest marches. The documentary captures the spirit of the times and shows a country is divided into all sorts of clubs and subcultures. It is a country that, despite all its blessings, lives in fear and moral confusion. But what exactly are we afraid of? A kaleidoscope of scenes confronts the viewer, disconcertingly and sometimes touchingly, with this and other questions and moral issues.

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On 22 July 2011, a bomb attack in the centre of Oslo and a shooting spree on the island Utoya took the lives of 77 people. It was the senseless, brutal act of one man: Anders Breivik. WRONG TIME WRONG PLACE tells the story of 5 individuals who were present then and shows the role of coincidence in this tragedy. A sequence of small, trivial happenings marks the thin line between life and death. Two minutes earlier or later can be of decisive importance. WRONG TIME WRONG PLACE is a film about the bargain with fate. However much one tries to influence fate, in the end coincidence calls the shots.

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Documentary maker John Appel made a film about gambling, winning and losing, based on the the memories of his father. Appel relates anecdotes to characterize his father and shed light on the events that led to his downfall. In between, we visit the horse races, where we meet an extremely good-humored bookie named Harry. Appel delves artistically into the mysterious mind of his father, who was not just a gambler, but a player of life.

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The annual Palio bareback horse race, set in the central plaza of Siena, Italy, dates back to the Middle Ages and lasts a scant 80 seconds, conferring glory on the winner and ignominy on the losers. Documentarian John Appel captures all the drama, action and anguish that accompany this fiercely upheld tradition, focusing specifically on the district of Civetta, which, embarrassingly, hasn't won the race in 23 years.

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Portrait of the popular folk singer André Hazes. He was followed for several months by filmmaker John Appel. Love, hope, happiness, sadness, concerts, family, and fans play a major role in his life. Appel filmed Hazes during performances and business meetings, as well as at home with his family and during a vacation in Benidorm. The result is both hilarious and moving at times.

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A documentary on Heinz Hermann Polzer, better known under his pseudonym Drs. P. Polzer was a Swiss singer-songwriter, poet, and prose writer in the Dutch language. His oeuvre consists mainly of macabre novelty songs, with dry humour, surprising twists and an exceptionally inventive and virtuoso use of the Dutch language. Polzer sang his lyrics with a distinctive shaky voice, while accompanying himself on the piano.

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Walking in the forest without being able to see, coming down the stairs or going shopping when one is paralysed, falling asleep with post-traumatic stress disorder: for the protagonists of Buddy, all of this is made possible by the presence of an assistance dog at their side. Edith, 86 years old and blind since adolescence, remembers all of the dogs she has had with her, and their portraits—even if she cannot see them—cover the walls of her house.

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An eye blinks close to the camera lens. This is followed by the image of an ear. Someone tastes food, another uses his nose, looking for a specific smell. A couple of massaging hands work bare skin. The film follows people who use their senses to get an idea or a sensation. The composer utilises his hearing to draw inspiration from everyday sounds. A passionate cook tastes his dishes until he is satisfied. A 'corpse sniffer' deploys his keen sense of smell to locate missing victims of criminal acts. The astronomer uses strong lenses to search the star system for new elements, while a blind man threads his way through traffic. Chaotic city noises accompany an image of what he can barely see. His tactile sense is miraculously strong. The occasional voice-over complements this ingeniously edited exploration of sensory perceptions.

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