De helleveeg

A. F. Th. Van der Heijden is a renowned Dutch writer. In 2016 two of his books were adapted to film. "Tonio" (Paula van der Oest) is about the death of the son of van der Heijden in a traffic accident. "The fury" (André van Duren) is about the lifelong relationship of van der Heijden with his aunt Tiny (Hannah Hoekstra).

A difficulty in making this film is that it portrays a lifelong relationship. There are many films in which a character is followed at two ages (for example as a kid and as an adult) the solution often being working with two different actors. In this film two characters are followed at numerous different ages, the solution being grimace and period details in the set pieces.

Early in the film it becomes quite obvious that aunt Tiny has been the victim of sexual abuse at a young age. The real questions that remain are:

Who donnit?

What was the impact?

The answer to the first question is shocking, but twice as shocking is the silence (and sometimes even cooperation) of the social environment. In one scene the perpetrator makes quite clear he has not the slightest fear of discovery. He knows for sure that everybody who knows will keep his or her mouth shut. In another "Festen" (1998, Thomas Vinterberg) like scene aunt Tiny herself does not keep her mouth shut on a family gathering. She immediatly turns from victim into perpatrotor for "tarnishing the family honour", something that really counted in the Netherlands of the 50's.

The answer to the second question was also shocking for me. The film shows how the damage done lasts a whole life, even at old age the intensity of the anger does not decrease a bit.

A great movie! Really keeps you thinking. Gives one the ability to think about one's own past!

The film's context should have been dramatic but it was directed as if it was a comedy. The acting was good at times but totally inconsistant while the makeup department didnt do much of a good job either. The ending scene was the movie's strongpoint, dramatic and in touch with reality, while at the same time a total misfit considering the rest of the movie. In my opinion there wasnt any cohesion between the different era's, it was out of context really.

Through the eyes of a young boy we look at Tiny, an intriguing young woman.All men seem to love her - and she seems to love and please every man --- even the ugly and older ones. Tiny is like a hurt little bird. Sometimes she rages, sometimes she is warm and tender for the young boy. The movie shows how she and the boy get older - and how he discovers an awful secret about her. The actors all play very daring - they become older and older during the play. It is all about the hypocrisy in a family in the catholic south of the Netherlands in the fifties and sixties. When at the end the secret about Tiny is revealed, the personages are all very old - their lives have slipped away and nobody ever noticed Tiny's pain. Life is irreversible and Andre van Duren shows this in a moving and impressive way - and transcends the mere movie-anecdote of a hurt and abused girl. This is a worthy successor of the other movies by director Andre van Duren. With again realistic provincial people made of flesh and blood --- who are comical as well as tough and narrow- minded in their smugness. In De Helleveeg you can feel how a whole life slips away - and therefore it was moving and poignant.

This film gives you a clear look at what it wants you to see, then it turns on its heel and creeps up from behind you when you least expect it and ambushes your heartstrings, tearing at and ripping them to shreds, as only the very best can do. I, for one, am duly impressed. There are topics in here I know something about, and I must say they're handled expertly, brought forth slowly, inch by inch, for maximum effect and lasting impact. Any personal memories you'd thought long supressed rise to the top like cream. Any lingering feelings rush forth like a waterfall beating against the rocks. Any remaining bitterness or pain grips you tightly like a swaddled newborn. There's no escaping the message being delivered by writer, actors, and director, et al. And the ending? The ending kicks you right in the gut. Bravo! Well done! This film begs the questions, When are men going to start taking responsibility for what they do to women and girls, and, When will society demand it of them?