A whole week completely devoted to Dutch film productions: the Dutch FilmFestival starts tonight in Utrecht. We celebrate what the Netherlands has tooffer in the field of film with premieres, masterclasses and, finally, thepresentation of the Golden Calves. But a Dutch film that wins an internationalprize or a top ten full of Dutch films still seems a long way off.
By Esther Villerius
Even before the film was officially released in theaters, Soof 3 already100,000 visitors. And Everything on the table by Linda de Mol scored nolower than three stars last year.
Dutch films can therefore score well, but there is no question of dominance inart houses and cinemas. In recent years, often no more than two homegrownproductions were in the top ten of the most viewed films in the Netherlands.In 2019, the year in which cinemas did not yet suffer from corona, not even asingle Dutch film was in the top ten.
And when we go, we often go to the more famous titles, such as the Bon Binic_movies and _The Battle of the Scheldt. The Netherlands Film Festival (NFF) isnot just about those big blockbusters. Because the small filmmaker deservesmore visitors, according to the organizers. The festival therefore tries toemphasize the variety of Dutch films, says NFF director Silvia van der Heidenin conversation with NU.nl.
Done with rom-coms
According to freelance film journalist Ab Zagt, the Dutch film does not exist,because we make everything. Yet there is clearly a preference amongcinemagoers, and therefore among makers. “A rom-com is the most typical. Thatgenre has not been so popular in other countries for a long time. Hollywood isdone with it – and so am I.” But in the Netherlands, romantic comedies havemade up the bulk of the offer for four years now, says Van der Heiden.
Zagt argues that the Dutch film industry is more driven by commerce than bydepth. “In the Netherlands there are just a lot of women who drag theirboyfriend to such a film.”
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24 years without an Oscar
Despite the commercial successes, Dutch films have not won major awards atinternational film festivals for years. The NFF also hardly attracts foreignjournalists, says Zagt. “We’re doing something wrong.”
“We can no longer rely on a Paul Verhoeven, because his last two films wereFrench. Alex van Warmerdam is past his peak. Dick Maas has been Prey didn’tget to work anymore.” And Will Koopman, the director of, among other things,Gooische Women , who was honored this year with a Golden Calf for Filmculture? “That Golden Calf was justified, but internationally they arenothing.”
Successes outside the Netherlands cannot be achieved with a beautiful filmalone. It also requires a lot of promotion. It has been 24 years since theNetherlands won an Oscar; a nomination was last made in 2003 ( The Twins ).And a Golden Palm has never gone to a Dutch filmmaker. Zagt: “The chance thatthe Netherlands will still go home with a Golden Palm is about as great asthat Feyenoord wins the Champions League.”
A pity, says Van der Heiden, because according to her, our country has so muchto offer on the canvas. Whether it is nevertheless going well with the Dutchfilm? “It can always be better. So please also take a look at the Dutch Oscarentry narcosis the tragedy femi or our opening film Sea of time. Thatshows how Dutch film can also be.”