How Much Longer

Rob, Rein, Tilly, Ben, and Marian have already received the bad news: their cancer is incurable. Now, at the oncologist’s office, they try to face their situation, together with the people closest to them, sharing their feelings as the end draws nearer.

What initially seems unreal, gradually becomes more concrete. The first questions are about treatment and, inevitably, how much time is left. As the weeks and months pass, reality increasingly sinks in. There are positive developments and setbacks to deal with. How long do you hold onto hope, and when do you embrace the time that is left? And what do you still want to do? Make one last big trip to see family, or simply find the strength to carry on with everyday life despite your dwindling energy? The oncologist is a compassionate listener, but can offer few certainties.

The five speak directly into the camera, filmed from the doctor’s point of view and drawing the viewer into the intimacy of the situation. The form is minimalist, clear, and unsentimental, with occasional moments of silence or a comforting arm around a shoulder. Moving and honest.