One hundred film actors with an intellectual disability. “Eventually the differences disappear,” says director Maaike van den Hoek

Entrepreneur Aad Nieuwenhuis is always working. He never has time for his sister Annemieke, who sometimes needs some help. Until one day she pushes him into a tunnel. Aad then sees with his own eyes that there is more than just work.

There is a very short summary of it Everything is Wonderland, a 47-minute film by director Maaike van den Hoek from Zuidhorn. In addition to leading actor Bas de Bruijn, professional actor at Theater te Water, De Steeg and Zummerbühne, among others, more than a hundred people with intellectual disabilities participate.

To start at the beginning: where did this film come from?

“Everything is Wonderland provides an insight into the world of people who live and/or work in assisted living. The storyline is of course inspired by the story of Alice in Wonderland. Only now it is not Alice, but the workaholic entrepreneur Aad who ends up in Wonderland.”

Which audience are you targeting?

“To everyone who is curious and can enjoy a high-quality film. You really don’t have to have a connection with a WDL location (Working, Daycare and Learning, ed.) to appreciate it.”

That bond is obvious, right?

“No, the film is intended for everyone. Of course you can think of healthcare institutions and education, but also of festivals and theaters.”

Where did this adventure begin? How did this come your way?

“We previously made a film with the residents of the Hornerheem in Zuidhorn: Don Giovanni, running with love. Then you already felt the vibes in the team: we can and want to do more together. I also kept hearing from participants: ‘When are we going to start again?’ Because I was working on a performance at Vanboeijen in Assen that touched me Alice in Wonderland, That was already somewhere in my head. And also important: after that opera I wanted to tell a story that is more about the people themselves who work at a WDL location.”

What makes working with these people so attractive?

“That they go all the way. That you are very much in the moment together. For example, no one looks at their watch on set. You also get very nice, direct feedback. Unfiltered. That is very nice.”

You have to be able to handle that.

“It’s just beautiful. But what I like most is the mix of people. Because in the end the differences disappear. That is really true; I don’t like being too nice to each other at all.”

What was Bas de Bruijn like, your leading actor?

“It had to be very sharp and move along. He did that excellently; everyone loved him. Bas can improvise very well. He catches it when someone deviates from his text. But we had to pay close attention all the time: we shot the film in ten days and did not record it chronologically. So you always have to realize where you are in the story, what your character is like. We had a day with 30 degrees, but also recorded when it was cold. These are all factors that play a role.”

You also have to deal with the energy that the actors can muster.

“Precisely. You can’t make them redo the same scene twenty times. But there is also something about that that sometimes you have to say: this is it.”

The creative team consists of professionals such as Siets Nobel (creative producer and film advice), Margot Brekelmans (objects), Gert Jaap Wiegers (camera and editing) and Jan Meiborg (compositions and camera). How important are they in this project?

“Extremely important. Indispensable. Everyone contributes their knowledge and skills to their own field. And everyone delivered a mega performance. Take Gerda Schepers for example. She has made more than a hundred costumes. As soon as they put on their clothes, you saw our actors transform into their characters. That is magical.”