Singer and actress Ellen ten Damme is a young woman with a full diary and a tremendous zest for life. Alway on the road, and up for anything wild. Ellen lives her life to the full, one hundred per cent. That is her strength and her credo.
In 2005, when Ellen is 38 years old, she is diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the next 18 months, filmmaker Rob Hodselmans sensitively documents Ellen ten Damme‘s life and work, during what is an intense and sometimes confusing time.
In spite of her illness she continues to perform and her versatility and resilience shine through in her work. At the Parade theatre festival she gives her own interpretation of Marlene Dietrich and Nina Hagen, and she flies to Germany to perform with rock musician Udo Lindenberg. At home and in the studio she works on her third solo album, “Impossible Girl”. Alone at the piano, she give a tranquil, hushed rendition of the beautiful love song “Stay”. Several other songs from her new album are also performed live in this film. She works hard to stay clearly focused, and to concentrate on her work as an artist and musician. She is constantly on the move, hardly takes a break, and struggles to find time to fit in the radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
A film about Ellen ten Damme, and about elusive things such as time, ambition, lust for life, love and friendship, when faced with the finite nature of life.
DVD
Director
Rob Hodselmans
Regisseur en cameraman Rob Hodselmans (1967) begint zijn studie AV Vormgeving en Programmamaken aan de Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten (Sint Joost Breda) op zeventienjarige leeftijd. Rob houdt van krachtige, poëtische beelden en dit wordt zichtbaar in verschillende korte films waaraan hij als cameraman zijn bijdrage heeft geleverd, o.a.: Samual, regie Tami Ravid, NPS-kort (2005), Most things never happen, regie Dick Tuinder (2005), Profs, regie Stijn van Santen, NPS-kort (2004).
Ook in tv-programma’s en documentaires zien we zijn beeldtaal: “Holland Sport”, korte filmische items. (2008-2009). “Over Vaders en Zonen” met Hugo Borst, VPRO (2008), “Rauw”, regie: Anneloek Sollart (2008) winnaar Cinekid Kinderkast juryprijs non-fictie. Wim Sonneveld (2006) en Avond van de jonge danser, regie Dirk Jan Roeleven NPS (2005), In het Gareel, regie Hans Otten, VPRO Tegenlicht (2004)
Als regisseur / cameraman maakt hij een 6-delige serie muziekprogramma’s met Candy Dulfer voor de NPS: “Candy Meets…”. Met Van Morrison, Sheila E., Maceo Parker, Dave Stewart, Mavis Staples en Hans Dulfer. Hodselmans maakte de promo’s voor VPRO Zomergasten 2008 en Holland Sport 2008 en een videoclip voor de band Textures.
Credits
MUSIC: ELLEN TEN DAMME, ROBIN BERLIJN
DIRECTOR AND CAMERA: ROB HODSELMANS
EDITOR: GOVERT JANSE
INTERVIEW: WILFRIED DE JONG
SOUND: BENNY JANSEN, HENRIËT HUISMAN
SOUND DESIGN: JAÏM SAHULEKA, JOËL SAHULEKA
DESIGN FILMPOSTER / TYPOGRAFIE: PAUL POSTMA
PRODUCED BY: FRANK VAN DEN ENGEL
COMMISSIONING EDITOR NPS: CEES VAN EDE, ANNEMIEK VAN DER ZANDEN
THIS FILM WAS SUPPORTED BY
NETHERLANDS FILM FUND &
LADIES’ CIRCLE NEDERLAND