Senjan Jansen

reference Senjan Jansen’s filmography isn’t exactly overflowing, but the guy’s got a knack for packing a punch with whatever he touches. Think about Kid (2012) for a second: not your typical coming-of-age drama. The story follows this little dude, Kid, who gets left behind in a world that doesn’t seem to give a damn about him. His mom vanishes, his dad’s nowhere in the picture, and he’s just trying to piece together some sense of normalcy with his brother. There’s this lingering coldness to it, like you can feel the chill in the air and in the way people treat each other. It doesn’t sugarcoat a thing. Honestly, it just lays life bare—messy, heartbreaking, and sometimes weirdly beautiful in the tiniest moments. Now, L'envahisseur (2011) is another beast altogether. Here, Jansen’s score helps crank up the tension. The film digs deep into the immigrant experience, but not in some preachy, after-school-special way. It’s raw. You’re following the main guy, Amadou, as he drifts through Belgium, looking for something—anything—that feels like hope. The city’s not exactly welcoming. There’s paranoia, desperation, and the kind of quiet moments where you realize just how lonely someone can feel in a crowd. A Family Affair (2015) leans into documentary territory, but it’s got this emotional punch too. It peels back layers on complicated family dynamics, unearthing secrets and pain, but also weird little moments of connection. Jansen’s work pulls you in, making the personal feel universal. There’s no gloss, just honesty.