Les dames blanches

Overview

Simeon's family left the Dominican Republic and arrived in Belgium. Unlike his mother, whose degree and decades of experience as a midwife are not recognised in Belgium, Simeon is able to land a job in the care sector, starting with an internship at De Liberteyt residential care centre in Ghent. In her hybrid documentary, director Camille Ghekiere takes us beyond the walls of the home and records how Simeon gradually gains the trust of the residents. His awkward encounters evolve into warm, animated friendships. As with her short film Nieuwkomers, for which she won a VAF Wildcard, Ghekiere is no mere observer and lays pressing issues on the table, but with a keen eye for the balance between humour and pathos. Fully coming into her own style, she illustrates her characters' existential matters through dreamy, imaginative scenes.