Скачать или смотреть Documentary film The bitter sweet shadow of stampersgat

In the Westhoek region of North Brabant, the sugar industry once thrived. Three major sugar factories formed the economic and social backbone of the area, including one in the small village of Stampersgat. But everything changed on June 1, 2006, when European subsidies for sugar beet cultivation were withdrawn. The impact on the village was immediate and deeply felt—especially in Stampersgat, where nearly all residents depended on the sugar industry for their livelihoods.

This documentary, created as part of an IDFA workshop project, offers a deeply personal and moving portrait of a village in decline. Director Patrick Bus captures not only the economic consequences of the industry's downfall but also the emotional and personal toll it takes on his own family. His father, a lifelong sugar enthusiast who even sprinkles it on his fries, struggles with retirement, and the marriage of the filmmaker’s parents begins to unravel.

The story extends beyond one household. For cousin Gustav, the question looms: should he take over his parents' farm, and is there even a future in farming anymore? And what if his father no longer believes in passing it on?

This intimate film explores the intersection of economic change, family dynamics, and the identity of a community facing an uncertain future.