West
CHICO
by Sophie van Bree
Discover the tender bond between 72-year-old Leendert and his wise parrot Chico in CHICO, a poetic exploration of love, connection, and the fragility of time.
THE STORY OF leendert
In a small house in Amsterdam West, the down-to-earth 72-year-old Leendert lives with his parrot Chico under one roof. Chico, the main character in Leendert's life, is a deeply wise Ara. Leendert shares his unconditional love for her through spending day and night with her around home. Traditions like showering after waking up in her bedroom keep them tied tight to each other.
While Chico keeps on growing, with a life expectancy of 90 or 100 years, Leendert knows he is becoming older and more fragile. When Leendert's health is deteriorating; his main worry is that Chico keeps on eating and drinking. He is wondering who will be taking care of Chico if he won’t be able to do it anymore.
The symbiotic relationship between Leendert and his parrot symbolizes humanity and people’s longing for connection. In the visual yet poetic experiment, we explore Leendert’s intimate relationship with his Ara. How far do you go for your love?
THE DIRECTOR
Sophie van Bree is a passionate filmmaker specializing in light-hearted, intimate, and poetic storytelling.
A graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art with a Master’s in Film Directing (2023), she has honed her visual style and voice under renowned tutors Emma Davie and Ling Lee. Her graduation film, Luna in Wonderland (2023), is currently in distribution.
With a background in documentary filmmaking from HKU - University of the Arts Utrecht (2019), Sophie has showcased her talent through works like The Art of Life (2017), screened at Go Short – International Short Film Festival, and Synchronous (2022), funded by the Gelderland Film Pitch.
She brings years of experience as a researcher and director in the Dutch creative industry and continues to craft thoughtful narratives as a freelancer.
