The Story of Craving: Purpose Found in Crisis
Coco has been drifting. No clear direction, no sense of what she's supposed to be doing with her life—the kind of aimless twenties or thirties that feels both liberating and suffocating at once. Then her mother's terminal illness arrives like a lightning bolt, and suddenly Coco knows exactly what her purpose should be. She moves in to care for her mother, convinced that this is the role she's been waiting to fill. What she doesn't anticipate is that her mother doesn't want her there. Not really. Their relationship has always been distant, and her mother's desire to face death alone—quietly, on her own terms—clashes directly with Coco's newfound sense of mission. What unfolds is a darkly funny, deeply human collision between good intentions and hard truths.
Behind the Making of Craving: Dutch Cinema and Literary Adaptation
Directed by Saskia Diesing, Craving is adapted from Esther Gerritsen's novel of the same name, a Dutch book that explores the messy territory between familial obligation and personal autonomy. The film arrived in 2018 with enough critical momentum that it was shortlisted—alongside eight other Dutch films—for consideration as the country's official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. Though it didn't ultimately make the final cut, the nomination itself signals the film's standing within European cinema circles. KeyFilm produced the project, and the 95-minute runtime allows Diesing to move at a conversational pace, never rushing the small moments where real tension lives. The film's reception on the festival circuit and among critics has been solid; it holds a 6.1 rating on IMDb across 169 votes, and earned three award nominations, cementing its place as a thoughtful indie drama with comedic teeth. What's striking is how the film refuses easy sentiment—it doesn't ask you to admire Coco's sacrifice uncritically, nor does it punish her for her naïveté.
What Makes Craving Stand Out: Humor in the Uncomfortable
There's a particular kind of comedy that lives in the space between two people who can't quite communicate, and Craving mines that territory brilliantly. The humor isn't bright or showy; it's the dry, observational kind that emerges when you're watching two people talk past each other with the best of intentions. Coco's earnestness—her genuine desire to be needed, to matter in her mother's final chapter—keeps bumping against her mother's equally genuine desire to be left alone. Neither is wrong. That's the film's real achievement. Rather than setting up a villain (the neglectful parent, the selfish child), Diesing presents two people caught in a fundamental mismatch of needs, and lets the comedy and pathos flow from that friction. The performances anchor everything; there's a vulnerability in how Coco's caretaking instinct wars with her own insecurity, and a stubborn grace in how her mother resists being a project to be fixed. I keep coming back to the small scenes—the ones where nothing dramatic happens, just two people in a kitchen or a living room, failing to connect—because those are where the film earns its emotional weight. You can't fake that kind of writing or acting. It either lands or it doesn't, and here it does.
Where to Stream Craving Online
If you're looking to watch Craving, the film is available across major OTT services. Rather than hunting through different platforms yourself, Movie OTT tracks current streaming availability in real time, so you can see exactly where the film is playing right now in your region—whether that's on a subscription service you already have or one you might want to try. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page will show you all the platforms currently carrying Craving, updated daily. It's worth checking there first, since streaming rights shift frequently and what's available today might change next month. That's why having a single source to verify availability before you hit play makes the whole experience less frustrating.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Craving?
The film was directed by Saskia Diesing. She adapted it from Esther Gerritsen's Dutch novel of the same name, bringing a thoughtful, character-driven approach to the story.
Q: Is Craving based on a true story?
No, it's not based on true events, but it is adapted from a novel by Esther Gerritsen. The story explores universal themes about family obligation and end-of-life autonomy that feel emotionally authentic even though the characters are fictional.
Q: How long is Craving?
The film runs 95 minutes, a length that gives the story room to breathe without overstaying its welcome.
Q: Was Craving nominated for any major awards?
Yes—Craving earned three award nominations and was shortlisted among nine Dutch films for consideration as the Netherlands' official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, though it wasn't ultimately selected.
Q: What genres is Craving?
Craving is categorized as both comedy and drama. It balances humor—often dark and observational—with genuine emotional weight, refusing to be purely funny or purely sad.
Final Thoughts on Craving
There's something quietly brave about a film that won't let you off the hook with easy answers. Craving doesn't tell you whether Coco is right to move in or wrong, whether her mother is justified in pushing her away or just afraid. It trusts you to sit with the mess. That's rarer than it should be. If you're in the mood for something that's funny but not light, touching but not manipulative, and genuinely interested in how people fail to understand each other despite their best efforts—this is exactly what you're looking for. It won't make you feel better about family conflict, but it might make you feel less alone in experiencing it.
