“January”, interview with director Jetske Lieber

January, the deeply moving short by Jetske Lieber, premieres in the Future Frames section of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, a program spotlighting the next generation of European filmmakers. A raw and tender portrait of post-breakup identity and quiet emotional repair, “January” follows Willem, a young man navigating heartbreak, friendship, and selfhood in the coldest month of the year. Lieber’s film is a celebration of subtlety, queerness, and the small relationships that carry us when romantic love fails.

January: More Than Just a Month

“January is the worst month to break up,” Lieber admits, reflecting on the inspiration behind the film. Originally intended to be a summer story, Januarywas forced to embrace the cold, both literally and metaphorically, after production requirements led to a winter shoot. “It’s also a feeling — cold, blue, still.”

The film follows Willem, freshly out of a relationship, trying to make sense of his life by reconnecting with friends, housemates, and his parents. “We really see him being like an extra in his own life, trying to get the main character role back,” says Lieber.

A Study in Quiet Heartbreak

Willem is portrayed with aching vulnerability by Bram Flick, an actor Lieber directed with incredible sensitivity. “He doesn’t say a lot in the film. All the people around him talk, so he had to express everything physically — with his body and face,” she explains.

Connection Beyond Romance

At its core, “January” is about more than heartbreak. It’s about how we rebuild ourselves through non-romantic relationships. “When I broke up, I realized I’d been focusing on just one relationship. And then I saw how many different kinds of love can save you,” Lieber says. Whether it’s friendship, family, or simply sharing space with others, the film shows how healing is communal.

“Romantic love can be intense and overanalyzed, but friendships can be light and humbling,” she adds. This quiet embrace of platonic intimacy is what gives January its emotional gravity.

An Actor’s Director

Lieber’s past experience as an actor shaped the approach on set. “It’s very vulnerable to act, especially with a crew watching. I never forget that,” she says. “I give my actors long takes. I want them to own the scene.” Her direction is deeply actor-centered, prioritizing authenticity over technical perfection.

What Jetske Lieber Hopes Audiences Take Away

“Even the smallest steps can keep you walking,” Lieber says. January doesn’t offer a neatly tied resolution, but something better: hope. “It’s okay not to know who you are in a couple of weeks or months or even years.”

She hopes viewers will recognise something of themselves in Willem — and feel understood.

Future Frames: A Platform for Emerging Voices

Being selected for Future Frames is a dream come true for “Lieber“. “It can be quite intense to be a young director, but this platform lets us be real directors for the first time,” she says. Meeting peers from across Europe and sharing her work with new audiences marks an exciting chapter in her filmmaking journey.

With “January“, Jetske Lieber delivers a deeply personal and understated story of heartbreak, identity, and quiet connection. It’s a film that lingers — not because it shouts, but because it listens. As she puts it, “If Willem can handle January, maybe we all can.”

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