Jaap Spijkers Movies
- 2009
This Flemish-language fantasy from Belgian director Guy Goossens concerns four young girls who end up in a village where time has stood still for 200 years. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Decleir, Jack Wouterse, (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)
- 2004
A compassionate and literate twelve year old girl finds her heart starting to harden after the bullies at her prestigious school single her out for harassment in director Mijke de Jong's tender coming of age drama. Thirteen year old Merel (Elske Rotteveel) is a diligent student who's well read, athletic, and may even have a promising future as a singer. She's got a caring relationship with her physically disabled, younger brother Kasper (Kees Scholten), and displays an unusual level of independence in refusing to fall in with any particular schoolyard clique. Though it isn't entirely clear why Merel has become the target of some particularly nasty bullies as of late, it's readily apparent that the situation has become rather serious when the expressive girl begins to become emotionally withdrawn, and arrives home from school with some mysterious bruises and a broken bike. Unable or unwilling to disclose the problem to the adults in her life who clearly seem to care, Merel's youthfully optimistic outlook on life gradually begins to darken until the situation finally comes to a head and she's forced to make a crucial decision that will foreshadow exactly what kind of woman she will grow up to become. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elske Rotteveel, Kees Scholten, (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)
- 2001
Two brothers who haven't spoken in years discover there are a great many things they don't know about each other in this dark drama. Luc (Jaap Spijkers) and his wife Mieke (Camilla Siegertsz) live in the Netherlands, where they were born and raised. Fifteen years before, Luc's brother Ad (Jack Wouterse) mysteriously disappeared, and no one has heard from him since, but one day Luc gets a surprising phone call informing him that Ad is alive and well and living in Belgium. Luc and Mieke quickly travel to Belgium to see Ad, though Mieke has some misgivings, since she's pregnant and due to give birth in a matter of weeks. Luc and Mieke discover than Ad and his wife Els (Renee Soutendijk) live in a tiny cottage in the woods, cut off from the world, and Ad has no particular interest in explaining what he's been doing for the fast decade and a half. Frustrated and wary of Ad and Els' shabby living conditions, Mieke soon returns home, but Luc stays on, hoping to rebuild his bridges with his brother. Time seems to only aggravate long-standing tensions between the brothers, which is not eased by the increasing rapport between Luc and Els. Before long, Luc begins hearing strange noises in the basement under Ad's hovel, and he discovers that Ad and Els have been hiding a terrible secret -- a deformed, almost feral boy who is kept in a cage like a wild animal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jaap Spijkers, Renée Soutendijk, (more)
Dutch filmmaker Paula van der Oest spins this frothy comedy about the ends to which three sisters would go to keep possession of the family's summer home in Portugal. When their 32-year-old brother, Nino, announces his engagement with his younger girlfriend, Bo, his three siblings react not with congratulatory happiness but with shocked indignation instead. For one thing, Nino was gay for most of his teens and twenties; and another, if he gets married then he inherits the summer villa. The three sisters are united by two traits: they each have vivid interior fantasy worlds -- often involving having sex with the other's husbands -- and they each dream of retiring to Portugal. Starving artist Wanda wants to open a gallery there, while writer Sonja dreams of living there with her husband. Michelle, the eldest, wants to flee her hectic domestic life as a housewife and mother to open a home for war orphans. Together, they cheerfully connive to undermine the engagement, as Bo invites them to Portugal to help plan the wedding. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvia Poorta, Anneke Blok, (more)
- 2000
Algerian-born filmmaker Karim Traidia directs this exploration of exile and asylum. A prominent and outspoken journalist, Sahafi (Sid Ahmed Agoumi) is forced to seek political asylum in the Netherlands. Much of the film occurs during a prolonged exchange between Sahafi, reptilian Dutch bureaucrat (Jaap Spijkers) and a sympathetic translator (Monic Hendrickx). This film was screened at the 2000 Rotterdam Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sid Ahmed Agouni, Jaap Spijkers, (more)
- 1998
Forced into prostitution against her will, a battered Anna (Monic Hendrickx) wanders the streets of a small town in Holland's northern Groningen area, falling before farmer Henk (Dutch theater actor Jaap Spijkers), who takes her in. Their relationship develops, but it is threatened by the imminent foreclosure on Henk's farm. Directed by Algerian-born Karim Traidia, a Dutch resident for the past 18 years, this film is one of the low-budget features in the end-of-the-millennium Dutch film series known as "Route 2000," which also includes Paula van der Oest's Tate's Voyage, Mart Dominicus' Fl. 19,99, and Boris Pavel Conen's Temmink. World premiere at the 1998 Rotterdam Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jaap Spijkers, Monic Hendrickx, (more)
- 1996
In this Dutch drama, the alcoholic tendencies of an up-and-coming young lawyer get him into a situation where he must make a decision that could make or break his career. It is a sensitive time for Ernst Quispel. At home, he is having trouble with his wife and his father, who is pressuring him to join the family law firm. His drinking is also getting progressively heavier and one night, while particularly drunk, he is arrested along with a group of violent skinheads. While locked up, one of the youths dies and Ernst watches while the police deftly sweep the matter under the carpet. The dilemma comes up when Ernst is forced to decide whether or not to testify in the court inquest demanded by the dead boy's parents. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 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)
