You know that moment when a movie doesn’t surprise you for a second, yet you find yourself grinning anyway? ‘Love is All’, directed by Joram Lürsen, hits exactly that sweet December spot. It’s warm, a little goofy, and proudly Dutch in a way that feels like a hug from home. Especially when you are Dutch yourself. When you grew up with the ‘Sinterklaas’ festivities.
Set around Sinterklaas season, you follow a web of intersecting romances and near-misses all stitched together with snappy editing and a breezy, Love Actually-style rhythm. The plot beats are familiar, sure, but in this genre predictability isn’t a flaw; it’s comfort food. And this film serves it generously.
What really carries you is the ensemble: Carice van Houten (
@leavecaricealone), Jeroen Spitzenberger (
@spitzenbergerjeroen), Thomas Acda, Michiel Romeyn, Paul de Leeuw (
@pauldeleeuw), Daan Schuurmans; everyone playing with timing that feels lived-in and lovingly chaotic. The camera leans into Amsterdam’s cozy glow, and the production design wraps every storyline in that unmistakable Dutch December vibe. Some subplots stretch the film a bit thin, but the chemistry and warmth keep you anchored.
If you grew up in the Netherlands, this one hits harder. The traditions, the cadence, the holiday mood. It’s a genuine feel-good film, the kind you reach for when the lights go up and the weather turns cold.
