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Narcosis rejects the traditional "five stages of grief" in favor of a more realistic, non-linear representation of loss. 'Narcosis' Review: Oscar Submission From The Netherlands

Merel, who ironically works as a medium helping others communicate with the dead, finds herself unable to use her gift to reach her own husband. Instead, she evades the reality of his death, facing mounting financial pressure to sell their beloved, partially renovated home. Meanwhile, her children cope in their own heartbreaking ways: Narcosis rejects the traditional "five stages of grief"

The story centers on Merel (Thekla Reuten), a woman whose husband, John (Fedja van Huêt), is a professional deep-sea diver. The family's close-knit life is shattered when John fails to resurface during a risky expedition in South Africa. Because his body is never recovered, the family is left in a "particular limbo"—a state of grief without a funeral or a definitive goodbye. Meanwhile, her children cope in their own heartbreaking

, the young daughter, holds imaginary nightly conversations with her father from an old telephone booth in the garden. , the young daughter, holds imaginary nightly conversations

, the son, becomes withdrawn and begins secretly practicing extreme breath-holding in a local pond, hoping to one day dive deep enough to find his father. Thematic Analysis: The "Limbo" of Grief

The 2022 film Narcosis , directed by Martijn de Jong, is a poetic and lyrical Dutch drama that explores the intricate, often messy layers of grief following an unfathomable family loss. Selected as the Netherlands' entry for the 95th Academy Awards, the film is celebrated for its sensitive portrayal of a family struggling to find closure when a loved one simply vanishes into the depths.