When director Saskia Boddeke saw the performance Furia by Kamak, a professional theater group for actors with intellectual disabilities, she was so impressed that she decided to make a film about the ensemble. The piece they perform, written by Oscar Wagenmans, is a lavishly designed fairytale about lust and anger, cinematically portrayed by Boddeke with beautifully staged shots in rich, saturated colors. She also follows the rehearsal process, zooming in on various members of the group.

Shifting back and forth between events onstage and behind the scenes, Inside My Heart blends the magic of an opera with the depth of a documentary. Fact and fiction merge—sometimes also for the actors themselves, who feel the emotions they portray deeply. They are a close-knit group, offering each other compliments, wise observations about life and love, and ample mutual support. Engaging with the poetry of their expression, this portrayal is above all an ode to the liberating power of limitless imagination.

The film was awarded ‘Special Mention Best Dutch Documentary’ at the IDFA 2022.

Music by Luca D’Alberto
Cinematography: Ruzbeh Babol and Reinout Steenhuizen
Editor: Elmer Leupen
Produced by Witfilm – NTR Uur van de Wolf – NLFilm Fund