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Verdronken land

Short documentary, 2010, 57 min.

In Bergen op Zoom, the Van Dort family fishes for anchovies on the Oosterschelde every year from May to mid-July, as the last fishermen using funnel-shaped traps on the edge of sandbanks. Unfortunately, their ancient labour-intensive fishing technique is time-consuming, while hauls are decreasing ever further. Whereas Bergen op Zoom anchovies are hugely coveted: every day, gourmets are queuing at Van Dort's fish store, hoping for a fresh supply. Without words, Van Poppel films paterfamilias Cor (77) and his son and son-in-law during their diligent work on the water, using long quiet shots. This yields an almost serene, slightly melancholic picture. At home, the women are waiting for a phone call from the boat: Can they give their customers glad tidings? Because often they get the disappointing notice: 'We only have mackerel and garfish today.' Cor looks upon the deterioration with sorrow. Is it caused by the Delta works? Or by the fact that large fishing boats are 'sniggling everywhere on the ocean'? Anyhow, things used to be better, as proven by the beautiful archive images and family pictures. Is this respectful fishing method coming to an end?

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