Addicted to Life

Original Title|Marieke: Addicted to Life

Documentary | 1' 26" | 2023 (Completed)

All images & Videos

(8 images)

Marieke Vervoort, a terminally ill Paralympic world champion, takes control of her fate by planning for an assisted death. As her body gives way, and her time left to live grows unpredictable, she finds liberation in her impending death.

www.mariekethefilm.com

synopsis

Addicted to Life is the story of Belgian gold-medal wheelchair racer Marieke Vervoort. Handicapped by a gradually paralysing illness, Marieke takes control of her painful decline and plans for a medically assisted death. Her acceptance of death becomes an affirmation of life. She begins to reinvent herself, taking on new challenges, like the Hawaii Ironman competition, and even bigger risks, like bungee jumping in her wheelchair. Marieke faces her situation with grace and humour, despite extreme pain and increasing disability. With death at her fingertips, she continues to reach for life.
Drôle, charismatique et dotée d'une volonté de fer, c'est ainsi que nous connaissons l'athlète paralympique en fauteuil roulant Marieke Vervoort qui, avec sa demande d'euthanasie, décide de prendre elle-même le contrôle de sa douloureuse maladie dégénérative. Libérée par l'autorisation légale de mourir, l'athlète s'épanouit complètement dans le dernier chapitre de sa vie, devenant une championne du monde.
Veelvuldig paralympische kampioene Marieke Vervoort lijdt aan een degeneratieve spierziekte en verkrijgt het recht op euthanasie. Haar aanvaarding van het einde geeft haar tegelijk de kracht en de wil om het leven zo lang mogelijk intens en rijk te beleven.

Credits

Scenarist
Pola Rapaport
Regisseur
Pola Rapaport
Music
Naima Joris a.o.

Format

Creation details

Type
Film
Category
Doc
Genre
Documentary
Year of production

2023
Production status
Completed
Original title
Marieke: Addicted to Life
Original language
English, Dutch

Technical specs

Running time
1' 26"
Aspect ratio
16:9
Sound format
5.1 (+sub)
Available formats
DCP; 4K
Colour
Colour

Contact & sales

Contact

Flanders Image

Bischoffsheimlaan 38
1000 Brussel
Belgium

T +32 2 226 06 30
flandersimage@vaf.be

www.flandersimage.com

Festivals & awards

Festivals

2022: Portland Int. FF (WP); 2023: Filmfestival Oostende; Millenium Festival Brussel; Wisconsin FF, USA; DOK.fest München; IMFF, Czechia; Int. Sport FF, Slovenia; Orlando IFF, USA; Biopic Filmfest Roma, Italy; Chelsea FF, NY

Awards

2022: Portland Int. FF - Best of Women's Voices Award; Millenium Festival Brussel: Best Screenplay; Int. Sport FF Slovenia, Best Feature Film; Orlando IFF, Honourable Mention; Biopic Filmfest Roma, audience award; Chelsea FF, NY, best documentary