Against the Grain - Award Winning Short Documentary

Against the Grain gives us a glimpse into the life of Arjen Dekker. He shares his passion for carving spoons from wood and dares to be vulnerable about his struggle with his inner saboteur.

Thanks to Luuk Compeer for doing an amazing job with the sound and to Arjen Dekker for sharing your story, spoons and music!

Thanks to Abundance Plus Film Fest for awarding our film and publishing it on your streaming platform!

For the gear-geeks out there, this doc was shot the Panasonic Gh5s, with the Sigma 18-35mm f1.8

#documentary #shortfilm #bushcraft #spooncarving #awardwinning

[williamc]

People say they want happiness when what they really want is peace.

[chopinho]

I get the saboteur analogy with an artistic pursuit where if you give yourself fully to it you feel you might screw it up and you sabotage your pursuit even though it brings genuine joy…it’s a strange dichotomy. I feel it every time I look at my cameras! Btw that was a hell of a good looking spoon he carved!

[roberto.]

Nice story and great filmmaking. A craftsman with a great soul.

[jacquiewithers]

"I am the big saboteur...It's me!" Beautiful and honest. Thank you.

[KimberlieOtt]

This was so lovely. You captured his spirit, vulnerability and the gracefulness of his art. Beautiful film.

[Tracer]

We need to embrace these authentic people. Lovely video TY.

[projectbiker]

This is my favourite 7 minutes I have experienced on Youtube in a long time. Brilliant film making, you should be very proud. Please keep making more - I'm in.

[aquapoetics]

Arjen's smile as he describes his inner battle is so endearing ... simplicity and truth and a craft that engages.

[jayodc_]

What raw emotion you captured in the simplicity. This man has a deep inner world, thank you for sharing

[lisawilliams]

Thank you...this spoke to me on so many levels...a gift🙏

[kitchencarvings]

I too am a spoonmaker. It was a picture in Woodwork magazine that got me started. It was an article about traditional Swedish bowl making but the spoon in the bowl is what changed my life. I was already a professional woodworker but I had never imagined that a simple, utilitarian object could be beautiful, elegant, and a work of art in its own right. I've been doing it now for 25 years.

[daneOcawdor]

Hey thanks for that. That's an important message and you did a lovely job of presenting it. A good time for me to hear it.

[thendecoach]

I resonate so much with him, and truly love his authenticity! Thank you for sharing this with the world, for your work in editing this footage, and providing it to all of us as little seedlings to find our own happiness and pursue it, when it is easy and when it is not, knowing it is still there, waiting for us.

[johndough]

You are super chill! God bless you Sir!

[missrachael]

You're a beautiful person, thank you for sharing with us.

[mariannewolf]

I so appreciate the vulnerability, the deep wisdom of Arjen. Wonderful filmmaking!

[johnnybrau]

This is more than beautiful... thank you 🙏

[PaulCarterArt]

Life and art is a daily journey of awareness of learning the difference of positive and negative self talk. It’s a training to break through the negative layers of conditioning. Creativity is a powerful tool to train the brain and body. Thank you for sharing the journey🗝🧩🎨

[TimotheeLee]

I can relate, the joy is in the doing and interacting with the wood. Uncovering the secrets, by carving, decides every chip.

[highspiritsfarm]

Well done. Thank you for sharing his story. 🥰