News

Tazuko van Berkel questions our thinking habits in new Ammodo Doc

Coming soon on NPO 2 and NPO 2 Extra

The new short documentary The World Behind Words about classicist and philosopher Tazuko van Berkel will premiere on Thursday 5 March at the InScience Film Festival Nijmegen and will be broadcast by NTR on NPO 2 and NPO 2 Extra.

In the film, directed by Marleine van der Werf and co-produced by Basalt Film, classicist and philosopher Tazuko van Berkel uses ancient Greek concepts to critically examine how our society is structured today. By uncovering the Ancient Greek worldview behind words such as economy, friendship, desire, trust or gratitude, she invites us to question – and perhaps even let go of – our habitual ways of thinking.

Broadcast schedule for The World Behind Words:

  • Sunday 15 March, 10.00 hours, NPO 2 Extra
  • Wednesday 18 March, 15.35 hours, NPO 2
  • Thursday 9 April, 21.40 hours (subject to change), NPO 2 Extra – repeat broadcast as part of Philosophy Month and the Week of the Classics.

From 15 March onward, the film will also be available to stream on NPO Start.

Published on 2 March 2026.

Premiere at InScience

On Thursday 5 March at 19.00 hours, The World Behind Words will premiere at the InScience Film Festival Nijmegen. After the screening, a discussion will take place with Tazuko van Berkel, director Marleine van der Werf, Dutch literature scholar and philosopher Lotte Jensen and psychologist Eddie Brummelman about whether – and if so, how – we can break free from entrenched patterns of thought. The conversation will be moderated by philosopher and editor-in-chief of Filosofie Magazine, Coen Simon. The film has been selected for the InShort Competition.

Reserve tickets