Alex Van Warmerdam Movies
- 2009
This jet-black comedy from Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam concerns a nasty woman named Emma Blank (Marlies Heuer). A crabby geriatric who lives in a seaside villa and is gradually withering away from cancer, she treats her servants like dogs. Her constant browbeating pushes them beyond the point of indignation and ultimately threatens to incite a small-scale rebellion. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marlies Heuer, Gene Bervoets, (more)
- 2006
A put-upon, middle-aged waiter whose life seems to be dictated by the writings of his best friend begs the author of his colorless autobiography for a new hue in a film writer, star, and director Alex van Warmerdam's absurdist take on fate, creativity, and power. A virtual human punching bag for his demanding wife, formidable mistress, and boisterous neighbors, Edgar (van Warmerdam) waits tables at a decrepit dive restaurant known as The West. But work offers no escape from the draining demands of his everyday life, because Edgar's customers are just as unrepentantly abusive as his friends and family. Herman (Mark Reitman) is the author in charge of telling the tale of Edgar's miserable existence, but as persistently as the hapless waiter implores the relentless writer for a merciful break in the madness of his life, Herman's sadistic wife Suzie (Thekla Reuten) always seems to steer Edgar's life in the most disagreeable direction possible. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alex Van Warmerdam, Jaap Spijkers, (more)
Written and directed by Alex van Warmerdam, Grimm is an absurdist, decidedly black take on the Hansel and Gretel story. Set in modern day Holland, Grimm centers around siblings Marie (Halina Reijn) and Jacob (Jacob Derwig), who were sent to the forest under the pretext of gathering firewood while, unbeknownst to them, their impoverished family left for parts unknown. Before long, Marie and Jacob learn of their abandonment; all that is left from their parents is a brief note advising them to go to Spain and take up residence with their uncle. The first setback comes in the form of a smarmy farmer (Frank Lammers) who forces Jacob to have sex with his obese wife (Annet Malherbe). Shortly afterwards, Marie turns to prostitution, but Jacob intervenes before she goes too far. Eventually, the siblings find a moped and take off for Spain -- only to find out that their uncle has died. When a wealthy surgeon (Carmelo Gomez) falls for Marie, the broke siblings' prospects seem to be looking up once gain. Unfortunately for them, the ultimate consequence of Marie's quickie marriage is nothing either of them would have imagined. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Halina Reijn, Jacob Derwig, (more)
For his fourth feature, Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam based this dark Dutch comedy on his own play about power struggles within a menage a trois at an isolated farmhouse where dull-witted farmer Brand (van Warmerdam) lives with his overweight wife Keet (Annet Malherbe), who is unable to bear a child. Since Brand is illiterate, Keet invites bright city gal Lena (Ariane Schluter) into the house to give Brand some book learning. As Brand becomes attracted to his curvy teacher, he gets encouragement from Keet, who makes him tell Lena that he and Keet are brother and sister. Lena moves in, and Brand is soon trapped between the two women. Keet represses her natural hostility toward Lena and moves into the background as Lena gives birth to Little Tony. At this point, Keet plans to get rid of Lena, but there are complications and twists. Shown in the Certain Regard section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annet Malherbe, Ariane Schluter, (more)
The action in this dark Dutch comedy centers upon the creation of the title garment and shows the adverse affects it has upon the lives of those involved with making, selling and wearing it. Each stage of the dress's life is punctuated by an excerpt from a nearby person's life which in turn adds something (usually negative) to the almost magical garment. Grim things tend to happen to whomever dons the dress, including humiliation and near-rape. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Alex van Warmerdam's award-winning second feature is set in a remote small Dutch village in the early 1960s. The village is actually just one street of a new town that was never completed, and the behavior of its inhabitants is invariably determined by their unsolved sexual problems, leading to a number of comic situations depicted in a tradition of absurdist black humor. The director himself plays a curious postman who can't live without opening other people's letters. ~ Yuri German, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Wouterse, Rudolf Lucieer, (more)
- 1985
This satirical Dutch film was the debut of its director-writer-star, Alex Van Warmerdam. Abel is a 31-year old man who still lives with his parents and is petrified of the outside world. His parents try their best to socialize him -- in some very funny scenes -- before his father (Henri Garcin) finally kicks him out. Abel does adjust and even finds love, the catch being that his paramour (Annet Malherbe) happens to be his father's mistress. Van Warmerdam's theatrical background is very much in evidence, as the cinematography (by Marc Felperlaan) and set design recall nothing so much as an off-Broadway play, albeit an occasionally hilarious one. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alex Van Warmerdam, Henri Garcin, (more)
