Hartenstraat

This is not so much a work of cinematic or literary (movie-ary?) excellence as a feel-good reminder that love is there for us. Love is in our family, love is in sex, love is in romance, love is in cooking and football and swans. Love is in our neighbors and our schools.

Complete with fantastic performances by all involved and enough humor to keep even the stressful climax above water, this movie is exactly what you need when you need love.

....which doesn't make it bad, by any means.

This is a romcom, folks, with all the attached tropes and trappings that go with romcoms, wherever they happen. Its an adversaries-to-lovers gig, with a running online dating gag for good measure. It's fast paced, funny, and sweet enough to give you cavities, with a good cast and fun characters. Oh, and Marwan Kenzari. Seriously, what more do you want out of a romcom? If lighthearted, lovelorn shenanigans are what you're looking for, this one delivers.

What a refreshing casting when it's the male lead concerned. Marwan Kenzari as the romantic lead is a great find. He's handsome, lovable and can actually act. It sounds quite ridiculous when I write that down, but unfortunately that isn't the standard when you usually watch Dutch romcoms.

The female lead I normally quite like, but especially in the first part of the movie she was horrible. I don't know if it was just the script or also the acting. The main character, Katje, was totally unrealistic and very one dimensional. Therefor the character development had to go way too fast and was totally unbelievable.

The supporting roles were okay. Again, refreshing to cast actual actors (for most parts). Of course, their storylines were quite flat and the characters a bit over the top, but that didn't bother me too much. The young actress who played daughter Saar is quite talented.

The last ten minutes of the movie weren't the best. It was the laziest part of the script, besides the introduction of Katje. That leaves the middle part as the best part.

Give us more Marwan Kenzari, please. And keep casting real actors. Hooray.

Hartenstraat or heart street is set in one of the most famous blocks in Amsterdam. Everyone who ever visited Amsterdam, surely took a stroll in one of these streets. It always had a sense of wonder, something larger than life.

Sanne Vogel, whose articles I enjoyed in "de filmkrant, a Dutch movie magazine ,captures this perfectly. She creates here own world in these streets. Something similar to what Richard Curtis and Roger Michell did for "Nothing Hill",

It is one of the best Dutch produced feel good movies I have ever seen(without Carice van Houten in it). Dutch movie makers are mostly excellent, but slightly cynical movie makers, so this is a nice surprise. Somebody actually made a movie for the general public, with a real sense of character-play, rather than star-play.

The soundtrack is excellent. The two main actors do a fine job. The other actors are just perfect in their roles (Georgina Verbaan is hilarious). And the daughter of the male character is unforgettable. The climax is just fitting.

Yes it is typical and yes you have to go along(way) with the story. But it is a romantic comedy, with a sole purpose to entertain. And it does just that..

See this please.. and don't forget: Swans stay together.. forever.