I saw a film that has affected me profoundly. I had recorded
it a few days ago and played it last night.
A Dutch film, directed by Mike van Diem. From the novel Karakter
("Character") by Ferdinand Bordewijk.(1997) I found it
to be a powerful experience from start to finish. The program's
presenter said that it was a mixture of Dickens and Kafka. Yes,
and more than that. It was filmed in Rotterdam and set in the
1920s and 30s. There was not a bad frame in the whole film. The
industrial urban landscape was a setting for austerely dramatic
characters. The acting was formidable and the casting perfect.
The musical score was exactly right.
I believe that Mike van Diem has a reputation for arrogance.
He can afford to be arrogant. It was GRIPPING and beautiful
