The Long Holiday

The most self-referential and deeply personal Johan van der Keuken film, “De Grote Vakantie” is a moving documentary that starts with the director learning that he has prostate cancer – then a deadly disease – and ends with the hopeful news that an alternative treatment that can put the illness into remission is being tested in New York. The Dutch filmmaker, along with his wife and collaborator, Nosh, decide to experiment with different remedial approaches of the western and eastern cultures, and visit anyone from the head of radiotherapy of a clinic in Utrecht to a shaman healer in Kathmandu. Most important, though, is the fact that for the last time they’re doing together what they love the most: travel the world and film it.

Original Title: De Grote Vakantie

Director: Johan van der Keuken

DoP: Johan van der Keuken Jean, Christophe Hanche

Music: Ab Baars

Editor: Menno Boerema, Johan van der Keuken

Country: France, The Netherlands

Year: 2000

Running Time: 142'

Language: Dutch, English, French