This feature film by Willem Wallyn tells the story of Cathy, a terminally ill woman suffering from breast cancer. She joins a self-help group where she meets Vince, who has testicular cancer; Philippe, who has pancreatic cancer and only two months to live; and Lizzy, who has requested an assisted death. The group is led by therapist Els, who is going through a mid-life crisis and a divorce due to her husband\u2019s affair. During the first session, Cathy shares that she wants to keep her illness a secret from her family. She expects her younger sister Vicky to step into her role as wife and mother. Unbeknownst to her, Vicky is having an affair with Cathy\u2019s husband, and her son Gillan has already sensed that something is seriously wrong. When Cathy eventually confides in Vicky, her reaction is one of shock and distress. Meanwhile, Lizzy, determined to have an assisted death, is initially sceptical toward the self-help group. She, however, begins to find meaning and support through the others, particularly Vince. Though they clash at first, their bond deepens \u2014 Lizzy even joins Vince at chemotherapy. Eventually, her request for an assisted death is approved; however, in part due to her experiences within the group, her perspective shifts and she ultimately decides not to go through with euthanasia. Vince, on the other hand, embodies avoidance and denial. He masks his fear with bravado and escapism but gradually reveals a more fragile side, especially in connection with Lizzy. Meanwhile, Philippe deals with his prognosis with dry sarcasm and intellectual detachment. Diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, he approaches his fate with stoic clarity, pushing others in the group to confront their own fears and denial. When he collapses and falls into a coma, the group is shaken. Cathy\u2019s surgery reveals her cancer has spread, leaving no hope for recovery. As the group mourns Philippe\u2019s death, she calmly signals the end by telling them she will \u201cget a coffee\u201d \u2014 their shared euphemism for goodbye. When her family visits her in the hospital, Cathy collapses. Her family eventually leaves, believing Gillan has already gone home \u2014 but in truth, he sneaks back to his mother\u2019s room and stays with her until she dies. He had known, even without being told, that she would not make it. The film concludes with Lizzy, Vince, Els, and Cathy\u2019s family preparing for her funeral.<\/p>
Following its premier at the Film Fest Gent, \u2018All of Us\u2019 was widely successful and was nominated for eight Ensor Awards (the Flemish film prize), winning the Best Actress category. The film has received widespread acclaim for its authentic portrayal of terminal illness, striking a delicate balance between heartfelt drama and bittersweet humour. From avoidance and denial to blunt honesty and quiet acceptance, the film presents a sensitive and emotional portrayal of how each character responds to their terminal diagnosis. Building on these personal responses, the film reflects that though it is a legal possibility to choose death in Belgium, one must still contend with the emotional, relational, and existential complexities surrounding that choice. Lizzy, who initially seeks assisted death as an act of agency and self-determination, becomes the film\u2019s central figure for exploring how meaning, connection, and relational support can transform one\u2019s orientation toward death. Her decision to ultimately forgo assisted death \u2014 after receiving approval and resolving a legal conflict with her father \u2014 does not negate the legitimacy of her initial wish. Instead, it highlights that even when the legal and procedural hurdles are cleared, the emotional journey is ongoing and often non-linear. The film affirms the importance of choice while also showing how that choice is embedded in social relationships, shifting perspectives, and personal growth. In this light, the self-help group is not merely a place to prepare for death, but rather a space where life is reclaimed, revealing how community and connection can offer peace and dignity even in the face of mortality. Rather than simply telling the stories of four terminally ill characters, the film invites the audience to reflect on mortality, vulnerability and the meaning of connection.<\/p>","cover":{"ratio":1.5,"url":"https:\/\/assistedlab.ch\/media\/pages\/visual\/all-of-us-by-willem-wallyn\/d7c5b25356-1753954332\/untitled-artwork-generated-based-on-photography-all-of-us-by-elic-de-mildt-2410x-q90.png","caption":"\u00a9ChatGPT AI-model, Untitled artwork generated based on photography All of Us by Elic de Mildt (2020), 2025"},"toggles":[{"title":"Suggested citation","list":[{"text":"All of Us, Assisted Lab: A Living Archive of Assisted Dying, tba ","link":null,"pathname":null}]},{"title":"Reviews","list":[{"text":"All of us: gevoel voor tumor, Bruzz, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.bruzz.be\/culture\/film\/all-us-gevoel-voor-tumor-2020-01-09","pathname":"bruzz.be"},{"text":"REVIEW: \u00abAll of Us\u00bb doet je lachen, huilen en door je tranen heen lachen\u2019, Flair, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.flair.be\/nl\/chillax\/series-films\/review-all-of-us\/","pathname":"flair.be"},{"text":"All of Us review: een lach en een traan, Geekster, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.geekster.be\/2020\/01\/03\/all-of-us-review-een-lach-en-een-traan\/","pathname":"geekster.be"},{"text":"All of Us Recensie, Moviepulp, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.moviepulp.be\/67880\/all-of-us-recensie.html","pathname":"moviepulp.be"},{"text":"Willem Wallyn strikt indrukwekkende ensemblecast voor zijn \u2018All of Us\u2019, Cinevox, 2018","link":"https:\/\/cinevox.be\/nl\/willem-wallyn-strikt-indrukwekkende-ensemblecast-voor-zijn-all-of-us\/","pathname":"cinevox.be"},{"text":"Maaike Neuville voert Vlaamse topcast aan in eerste teaser nieuwe Willem Wallyn, Vertigo, 2019","link":"https:\/\/vertigoweb.be\/maaike-neuville-voert-vlaamse-topcast-aan-in-eerste-teaser-nieuwe-willem-wallyn\/","pathname":"vertigoweb.be"},{"text":"RECENSIE. \u2018All of us\u2019 is niet de perfecte film over omgaan met de dood, maar de vraag is of die ooit gemaakt kan worden, Nieuwsblad, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.nieuwsblad.be\/media-en-cultuur\/film-en-serie\/recensie.-all-of-us-is-niet-de-perfecte-film-over-omgaan-met-de-dood-maar-de-vraag-is-of-die-ooit-gemaakt-kan-worden\/57721974.html","pathname":"nieuwsblad.be"}]},{"title":"Media citations","list":[{"text":"\u2018All Of Us\u2019 is een Vlaamse film over leven en dood en is tegelijkertijd confronterend, ontroerend \u00e9n grappig: Maaike Neuville, Delfine Bafort en Barbara Sarafian vertellen waarom ook zij wilden meedoen, Newsmonkey, 2020","link":"https:\/\/newsmonkey.be\/all-of-us-is-een-vlaamse-film-over-leven-en-dood-en-is-tegelijkertijd-confronterend-ontroerend-en-grappig-maaike-neuville-delfine-bafort-en-barbara-sarafian-vertellen-waarom-ook-z\/","pathname":"newsmonkey.be"},{"text":"\u2018All of Us\u2019: een lach, een traan en de dood, De Tijd, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.tijd.be\/cultuur\/film\/all-of-us-een-lach-een-traan-en-de-dood\/10196853.html","pathname":"tijd.be"},{"text":"Willem Wallyn na 20 jaar terug in de cinema met All Of Us, 21bis, 2020","link":"https:\/\/21bis.be\/2020\/01\/willem-wallyn-na-20-jaar-terug-in-de-cinema-met-all-of-us\/","pathname":"21bis.be"},{"text":"Willem Wallyn in de cinema met \u2018All of Us\u2019: \u201cIk kan me inbeelden dat ik wegloop van mijn eigen euthanasie\u201d, GVA, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.gva.be\/media-en-cultuur\/film-en-serie\/willem-wallyn-in-de-cinema-met-all-of-us-ik-kan-me-inbeelden-dat-ik-wegloop-van-mijn-eigen-euthanasie\/39868323.html","pathname":"gva.be"},{"text":"ZED sprak met Willem Wallyn over \u2018All of Us\u2019, Cinema Zed, n.d.","link":"https:\/\/www.cinemazed.be\/nl\/redactioneel\/zed-sprak-met-willem-wallyn-over-all-us","pathname":"cinemazed.be"},{"text":"Het einde nabij: wat kunnen we leren van de nieuwe Vlaamse film over terminal zieken, feeling, n.d.","link":"https:\/\/www.feeling.be\/psycho-relatie\/all-of-us-omgaan-met-de-dood\/","pathname":"feeling.be"}]},{"title":"Interest Group citations","list":[{"text":"All of Us, The End, 2020","link":"https:\/\/www.thisistheend.nl\/films\/all-of-us","pathname":"thisistheend.nl"}]}]}