A Never to be Forgotten Father

An Unforgettable Father \par A film about the life of Nick and the suicide of his father \par When Nick was nearly five years old, his father took his own life. Nick is thirteen now. The last time he saw his father was nine years ago. When he closes his eyes he can usually call a picture of his father to mind, but it is getting harder and the image is fading. Nick is afraid he will forget him altogether and he does not want that. \par Nick made this film to register everything he still remembers and everything still wants to find out about his dad. Aided by photographs, home videos and visits to places they used to frequent, he creates a tangible memory of his father and gets to know him better in the process. The film also shows how Nick’s everyday life is influenced by his father’s death. \par Background \par Apart from a document for Nick and his family, this film is also an initiative that will hopefully contribute to more openness about suicide. Although it happens to many people, for the bereaved it is still difficult to talk about it openly. The annual number of suicides is twice that of traffic casualties. These numbers were a complete surprise to the film maker, Charlotte Hoogakker, when she lost her mother nearly five years ago in this way. \par Camera: Nicole Batteké \par Sound: Jillis Schriel \par Editor: Erwin van Dijk \par Producer: Pascale de Ruiter \par A film by Charlotte Hoogakker \par Kids & Docs was effected with the support of the Stimulation Fund for Dutch Cultural Broadcast Productions