Where We Belong

How do children experience their parents’ break-ups? We hear from five children from three families: the twin sisters Alyssia and Ilaria, brother and sister Carleton and Sherazade, and the slightly older Thomas. They talk about the run-up to their parents separation, and the aftermath: how their mother left, for example, or how they had to choose between their father and mother, and adapt to the new reality.

In a matter-of-fact and often surprisingly mature way, they tell their stories and share their insights—not just about themselves and their own feelings, but also about their parents. They also express what they learned from the separation. The interviews are accompanied by atmospheric images of the children at the fair, by the sea, at a bowling alley, in the car—while the parents remain in the background. The sometimes dreamlike, contemplative atmosphere is enhanced by the poetic sound design and meditative music.