Movies Showing Nowhere by Yorick Goldewijk

If you could step into just one memory, which one would you choose?

Movies Showing Nowhere is the most intriguing story of family, loss and identity. Cate is lonely. Her mother died just as Cate was born and her father is, more often than not, lost in his own world. Only her pet rabbit listens to her thoughts and provides comfort.

Cate is skilled at “looking sideways” – not looking at the things that automatically draw your attention, but at what is right beside them instead. As a result, she sees things most people miss. She finds solitude in the “field-that-didn’t-exist” and takes photographs of the tiniest details so often overlooked. But she can’t find the one things she’s always looking for – her mum.

When a card drops through the door advertising a cinema that shows “Movies Showing Nowhere”, Cate can’t resist. Finding her way to the old cinema, she meets Mrs Kano – an unusual woman who gives people the most incredible opportunity. Using a magical movie screen, she allows them to step into a memory. They might speak to a loved one, discover something about themselves or revisit a special event. Mrs Kano offers Cate the chance to work with her and help others step into the past.

Movies Showing Nowhere will challenge readers to think about the important moments in their lives and how these shape the person they have become. It is an incredible fusion of fantasy and reality overflowing with powerful emotions. Cate’s voice and self-awareness slices through the story, similar to Katya Balen’s October, October. Her father’s emotional absence forces her to makes sense of life on her own. The resulting anger, fear and sadness shows her just how much she needs an adult’s support. Gradually, the individuals she meets in other people’s memories challenge her to think about life differently and reach out to those she loves.

This book would be an excellent class read aloud or bedtime story for children age 9+. The complexity of the story would really benefit from on-going discussion as children piece together the layers of meaning. I’m sure a strong independent reader would devour it in a matter of days, wanting to return to Cate’s world as often as they could.

Movies Showing Nowhere is a cleverly crafted book I will continue to think about for a long time. As I read, I found myself trying to work out Cate’s destiny and was still left open-mouthed at the end. Knowing what I know now, I want to go back to the beginning to spot clues and make connections. It is truly outstanding.

Movies Showing Nowhere is the winner of the Golden Pencil Prize for the best Dutch children’s book of the year. It was shortlisted for the Flemish Boon Literature Prize. Translated by Laura Watkinson, it publishes in the UK in April 2024.

Thank you to Pushkin Children’s for this thought-provoking book!

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