Glass, My Unfulfilled Life

Glas, Mijn Onvervulde Leven

Rogier Kappers
Netherlands | 2023 | 94 min
Swiss Premiere
Languages : Dutch, English
Subtitles : English, French

Rogier is in his fifties and seems to have it all: a flat in the city and a house in the country, two charming pre-teens, a bike and a van. But he still feels unfulfilled. He sets out to make his dream come true: learn to play the glass harp, and become a street musician. A documentary comedy about the unexpected paths our dreams take, full of twists and turns.

An accomplished director in his fifties, Rogier Kappers appears to have it all: an apartment in the city, a little house in the country, two great pre-teens from different relationships, numerous bikes, a scooter and a van. But an existential crisis, tinged with a profound sense of dissatisfaction, takes hold of him. What will his legacy be when he's gone? As a music lover, he sets about fulfilling his childhood dream: playing musical glasses and becoming a street musician. While this crazy, spontaneous notion may seem like yet another unfinished project, things take a completely different turn. Much to the surprise of his father and family, Rogier, the anti-hero of his own film, meets with unexpected success thanks to his little street act, and things snowball from there. Employing a self-deprecating comic tone that recalls the comedies of Nanni Moretti, the filmmaker-musician shot this epic full of twists and turns over seven years. A feel-good documentary comedy that celebrates both the power of music and the essential pursuit of our dreams.

Aurélien Marsais

Glass, My Unfulfilled Life, 2023
My Own Private War, 2016
Lomax the Songhunter, 2004
P.O.V., 1988