Joy, an intense young woman, was abandoned by her mother when she was born. When the film begins, we watch as preparations are made to leave the baby in a place where she can be found. The scene changes to the dish washing station of a cafeteria, where Joy works. Above all, she wants to connect with the woman that gave her up at birth. Storming the office of an agency that deals in such cases, she is given a name and address. Joy will become relentless in her pursuit of her unknown mother.
In her personal life, she is involved with a Serbian man, now living with his large family in Holland. Joy has a best friend, Denise, who is pregnant. Joy is also an expert shoplifter in conjunction with her friend, who fakes being sick, while Joy steals without being detected. Her conflict with her man stems from the fact she is overwhelmed every time she meets with his relatives, in contrast with her own lack of them.
After getting the name and the address of a woman that is supposed to be her mother, Joy begins spying on her. Joy discovers the woman that is supposed to be her mother, living with her teen aged daughter in what appear a well adjusted environment. As she follows them, Joy realizes she can break into their home, something that she does frequently, while they are away. Instead of attempting a reunion, Joy is repulsed by her conviction the woman never cared for her.
Denise goes into labor and that brings Joy to go into the hospital to assist in the delivery. The baby seems to have a calming effect on Joy because it connects with her maternal instinct. Her loyalty to Denise also has a neutralizing effect on the tormented Joy, who at last, gets some reconciliation in whom she really is.
A small film Dutch film that in its 78 minutes running time packs quite a punch. Director Mijke De Jong, working with Helena Van Der Mullen's screenplay gives us a full account on a young woman that was cheated of a normal life by what her selfish mother did to her. The story is told in a lot of close ups that show what is going on in Joy's mind as she tries to reconcile herself with what destiny dealt her.
In Samira Maas, the creator of "Joy" found an intelligent young actress that gives life to the heroine of the story. Ms. Maas is a wonder to behold whose energy fills the screen with a luminosity of her own. It is difficult to think any other performer could have given such a detailed account of this character.
Beautifully photographed by Ton Peters, and with incidental music by Rini Dobbelaar, the film surprises. Mr. De Jong, the director of the also intense "Katia's Sister" shows a talent for created intimate portraits of people in crisis.
In her personal life, she is involved with a Serbian man, now living with his large family in Holland. Joy has a best friend, Denise, who is pregnant. Joy is also an expert shoplifter in conjunction with her friend, who fakes being sick, while Joy steals without being detected. Her conflict with her man stems from the fact she is overwhelmed every time she meets with his relatives, in contrast with her own lack of them.
After getting the name and the address of a woman that is supposed to be her mother, Joy begins spying on her. Joy discovers the woman that is supposed to be her mother, living with her teen aged daughter in what appear a well adjusted environment. As she follows them, Joy realizes she can break into their home, something that she does frequently, while they are away. Instead of attempting a reunion, Joy is repulsed by her conviction the woman never cared for her.
Denise goes into labor and that brings Joy to go into the hospital to assist in the delivery. The baby seems to have a calming effect on Joy because it connects with her maternal instinct. Her loyalty to Denise also has a neutralizing effect on the tormented Joy, who at last, gets some reconciliation in whom she really is.
A small film Dutch film that in its 78 minutes running time packs quite a punch. Director Mijke De Jong, working with Helena Van Der Mullen's screenplay gives us a full account on a young woman that was cheated of a normal life by what her selfish mother did to her. The story is told in a lot of close ups that show what is going on in Joy's mind as she tries to reconcile herself with what destiny dealt her.
In Samira Maas, the creator of "Joy" found an intelligent young actress that gives life to the heroine of the story. Ms. Maas is a wonder to behold whose energy fills the screen with a luminosity of her own. It is difficult to think any other performer could have given such a detailed account of this character.
Beautifully photographed by Ton Peters, and with incidental music by Rini Dobbelaar, the film surprises. Mr. De Jong, the director of the also intense "Katia's Sister" shows a talent for created intimate portraits of people in crisis.
