THURSDAY, DEC. 08 – 8:10 PM
THE NETHERLANDS
Stricken
(Komt een vrouw bij de dokter)
The Netherlands 2009. Director: Reinout Oerlemans
Cast: Barry Atsma, Carice van Houten, Anna Drijver, Pierre Bokma, Jeroen Willems
Originally titled A Woman Goes to the Doctor — the title of the best-selling Dutch novel by Ray Kluun on which it’s based — Reinout Oerlemans’s flashy debut feature, a conversation-starting mix of erotic drama and two-hanky weepie, shattered all Dutch box-office records for a domestic film. Kluun’s semi-autobiographic novel tells the story of a woman’s breast cancer from the point of view of her adulterous husband; the author and his wife became Dutch celebrities. In the film, Barry Atsma plays successful adman Stijn; Carice van Houten is his beautiful wife Carmen. The two enjoy an enviable, affluent, loving life together, even if Stijn has never been the faithful type. When Carmen is diagnosed with cancer, Stijn responds by throwing himself into carousing and casual sex. As Carmen’s health declines, he enters into a more serious affair, with artist Roos (Anna Drijver). Colour, Beta SP video, in Dutch with English subtitles. 105 mins.
THURSDAY, DEC. 08 – 6:30 PM LATVIA
Return of Sergeant Lapins
(Seržanta Lapiņa atgriešanās)
Latvia/Sweden 2010. Director: Gatis Šmits
Cast: Andris Keišs, Guna Zariņa, Gatis Gāga, Vilis Daudziņš, Kaspars Znotiņš
The first feature by Latvian director Gatis Šmits, an award winner for his short films, is a comedy-drama about a returning Iraq War vet. Krists Lapins returns to Riga suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; his treatment in a sanatorium is derailed by his New Age girlfriend, who persuades him to drink lots of water instead of taking his meds. Hopes for a quiet recovery at home are soon disrupted by a swirl of unexpected events involving his landlady, her policeman boyfriend, and a bankrupt millionaire — all making for a witty, sometimes absurdist portrait of contemporary Latvian society. The film was adapted from the director’s own play. “The much-anticipated feature debut of Gatis Šmits was worth the wait ... The portrayal of the contrast between the petty problems of everyday people and the war still raging inside the returning sergeant’s mind makes for an impressive film” (Toms Treibergs, International Film Guide).Colour, Beta SP video, in Latvian with English subtitles. 80 mins.
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