Want to see: ‘When I Saw You’ is now on Netflix

I am speechless after seeing ‘When I Saw You’. The film has been on Netflix since this week and is based on the life of Isa Hoes and Antonie Kamerling. Noortje Herlaar and Egbert-Jan Weeber take on the task of stepping into the shoes of Isa and Antonie to tell their story. That they have done this fantastically well is an understatement.

‘When I Saw You’ takes you through the lives of Isa and Antonie. The film is based on the book of the same name that Isa wrote in 2013 about their love story, but at first glance, you might not say that directly. The characters are named Esther and Bastiaan, for example. A conscious choice by director Ben Verbong and Isa Hoes, who also worked on the film. This way, they wanted to make the story more universal.

And it is a love story. The chemistry leaps off the screen, and you almost feel like you, as a viewer, are a fly on the wall in the journey that Isa and Antonie have taken together. Aside from the fact that the film clearly depicts two people who love each other immensely, the story also highlights what it is like to live with someone who suffers from depression. Yet that love, despite everything, remains strong. Even now, and you can feel it. According to Isa, this is also a story about love, hope, and strength.

Tears were high during the intense scenes where you could feel Esther's (Noortje Herlaar) despair, but they really rolled down my cheeks at the moments when you could see how happy Isa and Antonie have been together. True love, I am a mega sucker for it. You already know how it ends, but the creators manage to make you still hope that there is a different ending to this story. I won't spoil too much, but believe me: you want to see this. Bring your own tissues!

Image: Netflix