The idea really took shape when a friend of Mirck tipped her about René van Helsdingen, a jazz pianist who lives with Parkinson’s. According to Mirck, he was ” The missing link ” for the film. Van Helsdingen plays a central role in the documentary: with his piano he guides the dance lessons live, fully improvised.
Contrast
The documentary is about the power of dance and music in people with Parkinson’s. But it is also a film about contrast. About how a day can start with physical pain, loneliness and struggle, and then turns into an hour of connection, energy and zest for life during the dance class. That’s what the dancer also calls them Good hour.
“We wanted to show what a day looks like when you live with Parkinson’s, from getting up to bed,” says Mirck. “And how dance causes a sort of reversal in the middle of that day. A moment in which they are not a patient, but again human. Or rather: dancer.”
To trust
Filming happened with a small crew. Only Mirck and Franken were present. “We consciously chose to keep it small,” Mirck explains. “The dancers know us well and that caused trust. If there had been a sound man, it could disturb the intimate atmosphere. And we didn’t want that.”