Living My Illusion

“Nearly every decision that people make is based on what other people will thing of them” - Joel Van der Molen

Logline:
In a Facebook/Instagram world everyone thinks Joel has made it. But when he invites Human behaviour expert Tony into his world, a journey of self-discovery reveals the truth, leading to a decision that will change the course of his life.

Documentary Synopsis:
A morally provoking, contextually interesting, and life-transforming true story of how a successful entrepreneur, husband and father is willing to do what most people fear to do, but deep down, they wish they could.

Through shocking truth-telling interviews and private one to one coaching sessions, the viewer sees Joel’s ‘in the moment’ realisations under a clever series of revealing questions by expert Tony, bringing our subject to question the masked realities of the life he has created. Joel courageously shares deep and personal learnings, speaking honestly about resulting to IVF to conceive a child, sexual repression, and if he ever loved his wife at all. He does this without fear of any backlash. Should he succumb to the expectations of his father, what his friends are doing and get back in line, or follow the feeling burning inside of him, at the cost of hurting his loving wife?

This timely Documentary about how Transformational Life Coaching can help people be true to oneself makes a case for breaking some unquestionable taboos and adds friction from a moral standpoint.

Joel’s story pushes the boundaries of documentary form, being a mirror to the viewer, inviting them to self-reflect on his truth-telling and courageous decisions, and to challenge every societal value he once upheld. In Tony he has found someone to give him the clarity he needs at a crucial point in his life, to help him find his own unique voice and choose a path to living a purposeful life, and giving to his wife and family the greatest gift he could ever give, to find their truth and ultimate freedom.