Some stories find us quietly, unexpectedly and change everything. For filmmaker Ursula Ludick, Tussen Hemel & Aarde was one of those stories. The doccie became more than a film; it became a journey of faith, healing, and purpose. At the heart of it all stands Ursula, a storyteller who turns life’s heaviest moments into something profoundly beautiful.
When the lights dimmed at this year’s kykNET Silwerskermfees, one short documentary in particular had audiences holding their breath. Tussen Hemel & Aarde (Between Heaven and Earth) – written and directed by our very own filmmaker, Ursula Ludick – received nominations for Best Directing in a Short Documentary and Best Short Documentary, and for good reason.
The film, produced by Danielle Retief, offers a tender, deeply human look at how former Springbok rugby player Jannie du Plessis and his wife, Ronel, faced the unimaginable … the loss of their 10-month-old son, Jan Nathaniël, who drowned in 2021. Yet, despite its heartbreaking premise, the documentary isn’t about tragedy as much as it is about courage, connection, and hope.
“It’s a story of resilience,” Ursula says softly. “Of how love and faith can transform grief into healing. When Jannie and Ronel agreed to open up about their pain, I knew I had a responsibility to tell their story with honesty and care.”
She pauses for a moment, then adds: “I didn’t choose the story, it chose me.”
A dream that became destiny
The idea for Tussen Hemel & Aarde came to Ursula in the most unexpected way. “I dreamt that their story was being shown at the Silwerskermfees. When I woke up, there was this urgency in my spirit. I just knew I had to reach out to Ronel.”
She smiles gently. “I’ve always believed that when God places something on your heart, it’s because He’s already prepared the way. That’s how this story felt, guided from beginning to end.”
That sense of divine timing guided the entire project. During filming, Ursula says, every emotion she’d ever carried seemed to find its place in the story. “I can’t compare my experiences to theirs, but I left my own pain there too … my own space between heaven and earth.”
The documentary takes its name from a phrase Ronel used to describe her swimming pool … once the site of tragedy, now a sacred place where heaven and earth meet. “It resonated with me immediately. We all have that place, a space where our two worlds touch, where we leave our hurt, forgive, or find peace.”
One of the most moving moments for Ursula came while filming at Jan-Nathaniël’s grave. “It was sunset on the mountain, and suddenly everything hit me. The weight of their pain, my own emotions, the responsibility of telling their story. I stepped away to pray, and when I came back, something inside me shifted. That was the moment I truly became the director. I knew exactly what the story needed to say.”
From heartbreak to healing
Despite its heavy subject, Tussen Hemel & Aarde radiates warmth and healing. “We heard from people who put up pool nets, others who chose forgiveness. But the most powerful thing was watching Jannie and Ronel begin to smile again, seeing healing unfold right in front of us. That’s when I knew the film had done what it was meant to do.”
“For me, that’s where God’s grace comes in,” she adds softly. “Even in pain, He can bring beauty. You just have to trust His timing.”
The experience also shaped Ursula as a creative. “Working with Danielle Retief was an incredible gift. She taught me to trust instinct, to play with transitions, with music, with emotion. She leads by example, and I absorbed everything I could from her.”
The woman behind the lens
Away from the set, Ursula is exactly as you’d imagine her. Humble, warm, with a spark of quiet confidence. “I’m a 40-year-old mom, teacher, and storyteller who loves to serve,” she laughs. “Buying someone a coffee is my love language.”
Her creative journey began in dance. She owns Move Dance Studios at Eagle Canyon Golf Estate and co-owns Turning Point Studio in Featherbrooke Estate, both safe, nurturing spaces where young dancers learn to express themselves through movement.
A moment with Morgan Freeman
Years ago, while working in a completely different industry, fate stepped in. In the form of none other than Morgan Freeman.
“I was working at an international aviation company when he landed in Joburg. I made him a cup of proper South African coffee, and he asked me where my cup was. Next thing I knew, we were sitting together, talking about life.”
During that conversation, Morgan said something that changed the course of her career: ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.’
“It sounds simple. But it shifted everything for me. Three months later, I opened my first dance studio, and I’ve been following that passion ever since.”
Storytelling in motion
Ursula’s creative career is as multifaceted as it is heartfelt: Choreographer, writer, director, editor. She sees them all as different languages of the same calling. “Directing feels like choreography on screen,” she explains. “Writing is just another way to tell a story. The goal is always to move people.”
And move them she does. Whether through a dance performance, a screenplay, or her soon-to-be-finished debut romantic novel – “a 50 000-word epic love story – maybe the next Twilight,” she jokes – Ursula brings emotion to life with authenticity and heart.
“I like to think that my audience experiences a shift after watching something I’ve created,” she says. “If I can leave people feeling just a little different, more hopeful, more seen, then I’ve done my job.”
Grounded in grace
When life gets busy, Ursula recharges with family, food, and laughter. “Those moments bring me back to myself,” she smiles. “And if there’s time, I’ll sneak in a movie or some writing. That’s my quiet joy.”
There are a few surprises tucked behind her calm exterior, too. She has a student pilot’s licence – “I can fly a small aircraft!” she laughs – and collects coins and banknotes from around the world.
But perhaps her most defining trait is her belief in perseverance and in dreams. “It’s not just about believing. It’s about knowing. When something is meant for you, keep walking toward it.”
And if you ask her to sum it all up in one song? Her eyes light up. “’I’ve had the time of my life … and I owe it all to you’. Because really, every story, every film, every piece I’ve ever created, it’s all inspired by the people around me. By connection. By love.”
As her journey continues, Ursula remains anchored in purpose. “Everything I do, whether I’m dancing, writing, or directing, is an offering. I just hope that through my work, people can feel God’s presence, even for a moment.”
Between heaven and earth, that’s exactly what she does, capturing stories that remind us that love never leaves, it simply changes form.
Details: dearheartproductions.co.za, ursula.ludick@gmail.com or follow
@DearHeart Productions – MEMEO on Facebook.
Text & image: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Makeup: ELAINE BOSHOFF, EA ACADEMY HAIR & MAKE UP.
