Rik Launspach Movies
The politics of slavery and the follies of nation-building highlight Danish director Lars von Trier's thought-provoking follow-up to the director's 2003 drama Dogville, featuring The Village's Bryce Dallas Howard in the role originally played by Nicole Kidman, and shot in the same stage-bound style as its predecessor. Shortly after leaving Dogville, Grace (Howard) and her father (Willem Dafoe) wander into a gated Alabama community still operating under the tenets of slavery. Appalled to stumble across a brutal scene in which a white master is viciously lashing his slave (Isaach de Bankolé), Grace hastily intercedes and pleads with the abusive man to treat his workers with respect and dignity. When merciless matriarchal plantation owner Mam (Lauren Bacall) dies shortly thereafter, the remaining slaves, who have never tasted freedom and only known life under "Mam's Law," implore the sympathetic Grace to help ease their turbulent transition toward democratic rule, with disastrous results. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bryce Dallas Howard, Isaach de Bankolé, (more)
- 1994
Fantasy and reality are combined in this Dutch allegory about the dangers of materialism based upon a play by Gustav Ernst. It is set in a grim and gray one industry town. The industry is a huge wire factory. The company goes bankrupt and the working class residents go into an economic tailspin until the Americans buy and reopen the place. Simultaneously, Gina, a young entrepreneur looking to be free of her lover Harry, joins up with a local computer expert who gives her lessons. The town happenings are quietly observed by a young girl. While the town folk are busy making money or having sex, a strange phenomenon occurs: the town is slowly overtaken by red roses and other plants. The film ends on a grim note with an insane Harry running about clutching a chainsaw and driving a forklift while the wire factory across town explodes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marieke Heebink, Jaap Spijkers, (more)
- 1993
In 1948, novelist Hella Haasse published a novel based on her experiences in growing up in Dutch Indonesia. Oeroeg captures the dilemma of those caught between the pretensions and culture of their Dutch homeland and their respect and affection for the native people of the colonies, and it has became a classic, with many editions printed. In this story, Johan (Rik Launspach), a European boy grows up on a plantation running and playing with his best friend, the son of the foreman, a native boy called Oeroeg (Martin Schwab). He is only barely aware of the gulf that divides them, but gradually becomes more aware of it as he leaves to study back in the Netherlands. When he comes home, it is as a soldier in the army, who are in Indonesia to put down the local independence movement. Not only is Johan grieved to be taking arms against Indonesians in general, and distressed at the racism of his colleagues, but he has reason to believe that his old friend is now a leader in the forces he is obliged to fight. He goes on a mission into the jungle to find him. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rik Launspach, Martin Schwab, (more)
- 1990
One of the colloquial terms in English for a successfully promiscuous young male is "swordsman." In this story, the amiable swordsman Peter (Peter Faber) leaves a swath of sexually satisfied women behind him, as he makes his way through the women of his acquaintance. However, his exploits become grist for the journalistic mill when a jealous former girlfriend gets on his case. She ruins his chances or real romance with a girl he is courting (Mariska van Kolck) by running a story about his amazing sexual prowess. However, true love eventually wins the day. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Faber, Sylvia Millecam, (more)
