Character

Character (Karakter)

Character is the Dutch brain child of writer-director Mike van Diem. Van Diem has stacked his film with Fedja von Huet, Jan Decleir, and Betty Schuurman to name just a few. As these are not your typical American actors, the names may not seem familiar to us; however, over seas they are readily known. Character was Van Diem’s first feature-film attempt as a writer/director and for his efforts he garnered an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (1998). I have not done much research on the director; however, I am unaware of any other movies that he has either written or directed, which in my estimation is a shame. Deze film was geweldig en goed gericht! My apologies to the Dutch if my comments do not translate well!

The movie begins with the confrontation between two individuals who clearly are at odds with one another or so it appears. The younger man is upset and hateful and the older fellow is nonchalant and seems unfazed by the musings of his antagonist. The scene ends with the younger “storming” out of the room only to return moments later to jettison himself across the elder’s desk sending us all into utter darkness. Moments later, we see our youngster, Jakob Willem Katadreuffe (Fedja) wondering the streets in a blood-soaked and disheveled mess. Shortly after returning to his home, he is arrested by the police for the murder of his father, Dreverhaven (Jan Decleir), a relatively hated person among the local poor. The movie then begins as Jakob is questioned about his father’s murder, which triggers flashbacks into his life and relationships leading up to the fateful night.

Through this story we learn of Dreverhaven’s affair with his maid, which resulted in the conception of Jakob. Although the miserly father proposed to his faithful servant, she decides not to accept his offer and instead raises the boy on her own. However, a single woman with a child “back in the day” was looked at in a less fortuitous way and it did not take long for problems and issues to arise. Although Jakob was curious about his father, his mother would simply say that they needed “nothing from him.” The boy finally meets his father when during an arrest, for stealing, he claims his last name is Dreverhaven. His father strolls in and grabs the boy and looks right at the guard and says, “I’ve never seen this boy before in my life” and then continues to walk away without turning back. This was his MO, he never turned around when walking away except one time and I’ll let you see that in the movie. Jakob continues through life and looks for love but falls just short as his drive to succeed and desire to one-up Dreverhaven takes precedence.

This film was very well done. I thought I had this movie figured out from the very beginning, which was going to be a lesson on how to survive. Pleasantly, I was surprised at the end, it actually is about how sometimes we strive so hard for something that we overlook the love that most of us so eagerly seek. I give this foreign classic four and a half stars.

Once again, I’m not a fan of subtitles, but it seemed secondary as the acting and music just drew me in almost effortlessly. It’s amazing how music and pure acting can transcend language. I’m not sure if any of the actors won any awards within their own country; however, if they didn’t it would be a crime. The character development was intricate, the acting was marvelous, the cinematography and use of lighting was astounding. I usually don’t single out actors; however, in this film I will make an exception. Jan Decleir, Dreverhaven, was nothing short of perfection. I can not imagine another actor, American or otherwise who could of or would have performed the role as flawlessly. Character had a great deal of it! Mike van Diem needs to return to film-making and perhaps he could give us an American version of the Dutch classic. I think it would be a hit in the states.  If you are interested in a foreign film, I would definitely recommend Character.

That’s How Matt Sees It!