Frans Weisz Movies
- 1999
A woman must choose between secure affection and fiery passion in this romantic costume drama. In 1899, Emilie van Thuile (Johanna Ter Steege), a delicate woman prone to fainting, is still getting over the death of her husband, an archeologist, when his assistant Hugo (Anthony Calf) asks for her hand in marriage. Emilie doesn't find Hugo terribly exciting, but she misses the security of a husband and agrees to wed him anyway. She accompanies Hugo to Italy, where he's completing the project that Mr. Van Thuile was working on at the time of his death, the uncovering and reconstruction of an ancient temple. While staying in a nearby spa and hotel, Emilie meets Capt. Aldo (Massimo Ghini), a doctor who has recently returned from military service in Africa. Emilie is captivated by the ruggedly handsome physician, who seems quite interested in her as well. Emilie impulsively runs off with Aldo, despite the warnings of innkeeper DeSantis (Alessandro Haber), who tells Emilie that Aldo is a notorious ladies' man who will abandon her once he's had his way with her. A Woman of the North received its most positive notices for Gianni Giovagnoni's production design and Goert Giltay's cinematography. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johanna ter Steege, Massimo Ghini, (more)
- 1995
In this Dutch drama, a former vaudevillian tries one last time to find the dignity of a legitimate role. Instead he finds himself faced with a past he tried hard to bury. It is base upon a 1982 novel by Harry Mulisch. Willem, a 78-year old man, comes from a long line of illustrious stage actors. But unlike them, he was never able to rise beyond the level of vaudeville performer. This has caused him tremendous pain. His break finally comes after he is offered the part of an aging classical actor who kills his male co-star/lover before he goes on to play Prospero in The Tempest. He takes the role, and the resulting heat from his castmates who change when he demonstrates real talent. He has major problems though. He butts heads with the director. He becomes confused when a younger actress makes untoward advances. Finally he has trouble playing a homosexual. The strain causes him to suffer disturbing flashbacks about his dysfunctional family life and his mother's death. The weight of the memories causes him to collapse during the final rehearsal. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1992
It seems that misdeeds by inhabitants of the Dutch provinces make for believable stories, whether they are mysteries by Willem van de Wettering, or psychological thrillers by Simon Vestdijk, who wrote the book this film is based on. In the story, set in the 1950s, Hendrik Grond (Gijs Scholten van Aschat) has a good law practice, and a happy marriage which has produced a son. He is so contented that his world is completely shattered when, undetected, he catches his wife in bed with his law firm's senior partner. In fact, he has become quietly unhinged, and he arranges a series of "accidents" to ensure his revenge - becoming involved in the local underworld in the process. Will he succeed in committing a series of "perfect" crimes, or will the police inspector (Johan Simons) investigating these incidents get wise? ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gijs Scholten van Ashat, Renée Soutendijk, (more)
- 1989
The daughter of a Jewish couple who survived the Holocaust is soon to marry a doctor, which is an occasion for celebrating. Thus, the girl's parents have decided to have a prenuptial feast at their country estate. Among the invited guests is a woman who fostered their child during the Nazi era. Instead of being grateful, the girl's mother is mostly jealous. Despite the fact that this is a celebration, memories of the past threaten to overpower the proceedings. This affectionately told story is based on the Dutch stage play Leedvermaak by Judith Herzberg). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Bokma
- 1987
In this award-winning film, Robert Havinck is an attorney who wins his freedom from his unhappy marriage to Lydia when she commits suicide by automobile, conjuring up an auto accident to die in. Unfortunately, she took a complete stranger along with her, and a combination of Robert's having some small feeling of guilt at not having divorced her years before, and curiosity about her motives, leads him to team up with his fifteen-year old daughter Eva to explore Lydia's final days and her motives for suicide. As they investigate, flashbacks tell Lydia's story and reveal that Robert's arid lack of emotional warmth was a major contributing factor in her death. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 1980
- R
In a true story beginning in the year before the outbreak of WW II in France, Charlotte (Birgit Doll), a young woman sent to the safety of her grandfathers in the south of France by her Jewish family in Germany, starts to paint pictures that recall some of the terrors she has already known in Germany before leaving. The movie slips back and forth between the memories her paintings conjure up, and her life in France. At first, back in Germany, Charlotte was convinced that her own optimistic, romantic outlook would save her from all harm. But then that self-deception fades a little as her father, a doctor, is picked up by the Gestapo. Even though her father's release is finally secured by Charlotte's step-mother (an opera singer), the situation steadily deteriorates until her parents send her away in the hope that she will be better off in France. Once there, the harsh reality intrudes so much on her life that not even her paintings can afford her any solace. Her despair becomes stronger as the Nazi atrocities begin to multiply, affording her little real hope of survival. An epilogue to the movie tells the audience the fate of the real Charlotte, since the movie ends before that time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Birgit Doll, Derek Jacobi, (more)
- 1975
Based on a popular and well-known Dutch stage play, Rooie Sien tells the story of a woman (Willeke Alberti) living in Rotterdam before the First World War. Her mother, a prostitute in Amsterdam, refuses to be "rescued" by her husband. Sien moves to Amsterdam and marries and is now unhappy in her own right. She sings a number of popular songs throughout the story. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Willeke Alberti, Pim de la Parra, (more)
- 1966
Wessel Franken (Paolo Graziosi) is a writer who leaves his wife and work behind for a vacation in sunny Cote D'Azur. When he discovers his elderly host Max (Walter Kous) is having a homosexual affair with young Danny (Joop Van Hulzen), he flees to Rome for a brief fling with Karen (Kittie Courbois). Wessel soon is lonely for his wife Leonie (Asta Weyne) and longs to return to the home he previously couldn't wait to leave behind. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kitty Courbois, Paolo Graziosi, (more)
