Private Project

How to fall apart : a true love story

‘How To Fall Apart – A True Love Story’ is the remarkable tale of two people who find each other by saying goodbye.

Jelle and Sofie are two filmmakers who share a history as a couple. They also both have their own trauma to deal with. During a research trip in Greece they are inevitably confronted with their problems. They decide to point the camera at themselves, and start filming their candid talks, their personal contemplations and their everyday lives. Documentary and lush impressionistic images are combined into a unique whole. The result is a courageous film that shows how depression can be a force of positive change in life.

  • Jelle Janssens
    Director
    From the border, The happy few, From the shadows, My aunts from Ghent
  • Sofie Hanegreefs
    Director
    From the border, The happy few, From the shadows, My aunts from Ghent
  • Jelle Janssens
    Writer
  • Sofie Hanegreefs
    Writer
  • Anderewereldfilms
    Producer
    Grensland, The happy few, Vanuit de schaduw, Mijn tantes uit Gent
  • Everstory Productions
    Producer
    Vanitas, Gerontophobia (feature fiction)
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    How to fall apart : a true love story
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 5 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 24, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    75,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Belgium
  • Country of Filming:
    Belgium, Greece
  • Language:
    Dutch
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Docville 2009, Grensland
    Leuven, Belgium
    yes
  • Docville 2011, The happy few
    Leuven, Belgium
    yes
  • Festival social film Perspectief 2009, Grensland
    Antwerp, Belgium
    Prijs Aanstormend talent
  • Filmfestival Oostende 2012, My aunts from Ghent
    Oostende, Belgium
  • Dubai filmfestival Filmart 2012, My aunts from Ghent
    Dubai, Arab Emirates
  • Digital Marrakesh 2012, My aunts from Ghent
    Marrakesh, Morroco
Distribution Information
  • Bevrijdingsfilms
    Country: Belgium
    Rights: All Rights, Video / Disc
  • Flanders Doc, universcine
    Country: Belgium
    Rights: Video on Demand
Director Biography - Jelle Janssens, Sofie Hanegreefs

'How to fall apart', 65 min., 2016

Docfeed Festival, Eindhoven_Netherlands, 2017.
Spotlight Documentary Award festival_Atlanta US, Golden Award winner 2017

'1 op 10', 30 min, 2013.
1st episode of a documentary series about poverty in Belgium.
With the support of the Flemish Film fund (VAF)
Broadcasted: Eén (Flemish national television)
Production: Associate directors

‘My aunts from Ghent’, 83 min., 2012
trailer: https://youtu.be/dkqroIu1PQo
With the support of the Flemish Film fund (VAF)
Broadcasted: NTR, Holland Doc. (Nl.), Canvas
Film festival Ostend, selected for the Belgian competition 2012.
Dubai film festival filmart, 2012.
Marrakesh Digital fest, 2012.

‘The Happy Few’, 60 min., 2010
trailer: https://youtu.be/FID8sMOj7us
Selected for the Belgian competition at Docville 2011.

‘From the shadows’, 55 min., 2009
trailer: https://youtu.be/EZcf4Wc3VnQ
broadcasted: Lichtpunt (Canvas/Eén: Flemish public television)

‘From the border’, 60 and 90 min., 2008
trailer: https://youtu.be/Cw5_1EGcXQM
broadcaster: Lichtpunt (Flemish public television)
Selected for the Belgian competition at Docville 2009, 1st price Film festival Perspectief for social documentaries in Antwerp, 2009

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Jelle and Sofie run a documentary production company called Andere Wereld Films. They are the creators of this movie, but also its protagonists. Together they’ve tried to transform their own
experience into a positive incentive to turn their life around and get a fresh start. The movie documents their candid talks and testimonies, but it is also filled with impressionistic scenes that
illustrate the complex emotions the characters have to live through.

‘How To Fall Apart’ is a movie with a mission: the personal stories of Jelle and Sofie are meant to show us that a state of depression can be strongly linked to feelings we are all familiar with: stress,
pressure, fear, insecurity, loneliness.

First and foremost, this documentary wants to defy popular opinion and prejudice about depression by inspiring a public debate. The straightforward story renders the movie recognisable and accessible to a wide audience.