Film Fetish Friday: Alles is Familie, The Imposter, Amour

Film Fetish Friday: Alles is Familie, The Imposter, Amour

Nov 23, 2012 |  by  |  Art, Event
About the author
As a freelance journalist, Anouk (26) usually writes about what other people do or like. In her precious spare time she watches arthouse films. Not a few. A lot, thanks to her trusted Cineville pass. Here she can finally share her film-fetish with the world.

To watch or not to watch? I will tour around Amsterdam’s cinemas and answer this crucial question every Friday. Without mercy, of course. Sucky films will be slaughtered, cinematographic pearls will be appreciated as such. Or the other way around. After all, good taste is in the eye of the beholder.

Alles is Familie

Kim van Kooten wrote one of the most successful films in Dutch history. More than a million people went to see Alles is Liefde in the cinemas. So the expectations of her new film were high. I think there’s a big chance Alles is Familie will also be a great success. This film is less sweet, less predictable, more painful, which I think makes it even better.

Alles is Familie is about one family and each member has its own problems. There’s Winnie (Carice van Houten), whose husband Rutmer (a hilarious Thijs Römer) is infertile. So he secretly uses his brother Charlie (Benja Bruijning) as a sperm donor. And then there’s Dick (Jacob Derwig). He used to be married to the sister of Rutmer and Charlie, but she died of cancer two years ago. Luckily, he’s finding love again. In the meanwhile Rutmer and Charlie’s parents, played by Martine Bijl and Kees Hulst (love him) are struggling with their marriage.

Well, lots of stuff happening in this 130 minute story. I was pleasantly surprised, since I didn’t really like Alles is Liefde. This time Van Kooten wrote a rawer film, with sharp dialogues and the right dose of humour and drama. Don’t miss it!

Watch this film in Cineville’s The Movies and Het Ketelhuis. Also in Pathé (all of them).

The Imposter

My first thoughts after seeing this documentary: oh my fucking God! This is unbelievable. If this would have been a fiction film, you wouldn’t have believed it. No wonder Bart Layton’s The Imposter is a big hit at IDFA. Not to worry, this Sunday Kriterion will show it as well. Try to get a ticket, because you’ll be amazed.

The film is about Nicholas Barclay, a 13 year old boy who disappears in 1993 from his hometowm San Antonio, Texas. Three years and four months later he seems to be found again, in Spain. Although he doesn’t look like Nicholas at all, talks with a French accent and doesn’t remember anything from the past, his family welcomes him like it’s their own blood. How? Why?

From the beginning of the film we, as viewers, already know that a random guy was posing to be Nicholas. He tells how he did it, from the beginning ’till the moment he got busted. This guy, Frédéric Bourdin, is sympathetic and super scary at the same time. It’s fascinating to hear him tell about how he got into the Barclay family. Also Nicholas’ sister, mother, brother in law and US officials tell their side of this incredible story.

Do yourself a favour and go to Kriterion this weekend.

Watch this film in Cineville’s Kriterion.

Amour

Wow, how unpleasant was it to watch Amour. I should have known, since Michael Haneke (Caché, Funny Games, The Piano Teacher) isn’t the kind of film maker that creates easy stuff. In his newest, that won the Palm d’Or in Cannes, we see how an old man (Jean-Louis Trintignant) struggles with the dementia of his wife (Emmanuele Riva). Slowly she slides more and more away from him, until she speaks and eats no more.

The loneliness of husband George grabs you by the throat. The whole film breathes ‘old age’ and ‘decay’. Everything is so: the talking, the moving, the getting into action, everything. Amour is good cinema, but it will not brighten your mood.

Watch this film in Cineville’s EYE, The Movies, Rialto and Cinecenter. Also in Pathé (City).

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