Tirza opens 30th edition Dutch Film Festival - actors in the spotlight

By Leo Bankersen

Film acting is in the special spotlight during the 30th edition of the Netherlands Film Festival. So that's convenient that the Festival opens tonight with Tirza, a story that is too gruesome to be true, but which, thanks to the acting of Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Sylvia Hoeks and Johanna ter Steege, among others, you have to believe anyway.

Rudolf van den Berg single-handedly reworked Arnon Grunberg's book, about Jörgen Hofmeester, his failed life and his adored daughter, into a haunting road movie, a journey to the end of the night. Scholten van Aschat, who had long been working towards the role, allows the contained bitterness and anger to slowly turn into despair. Hoeks plays her best role so far here and Ter Steege saw enough in this script to put aside her dislike of Grunberg. And don't forget nine-year-old Keitumetse Matlabo from South Africa, as Hofmeester's conscience and guardian angel. The result is a film that wrings and chafes, but also has the allure of a great and bitter tragedy. Tirza is now the Dutch entry for the Oscars.

Another strong acting film premiering at the festival next Saturday is Dusk by Hanro Smitsman. The cast of this drama loosely based on the murder of Maya Braderic showcases a host of young Dutch talent. Smitsman, who previously took Robert de Hoog to a Golden Calf for his role in Skin directed, makes Schemer a fine ensemble piece in which the group behaviour of so-called school friends who are actually all permanently on guard is razor-sharp. Disturbingly so, even without the murder.

Guest of the year is Anneke Blok, the modest but versatile actress whom many will know from her moving performance in All is Love, but who also stands her ground on stage in often stark and confrontational pieces.

Tirza can still be seen in Utrecht on 28 and 29 September, and hits cinemas nationwide on 30 September. Dusk can be seen on 25, 26 and 30 September.