Les habitants

"The Northerners" (1992) is the second feature length movie of Alex van Warmerdam after "Abel" (1986).

It is never a simpel task to give a follow up to a successful debut, and "The Northerners" is no exception. It is vintage van Warmerdam, but in my opinion "Abel" was the better movie.

In "The Northerners" there are a lot of weird characters in a very clear and sober environment.

This environment consists in a just build but not quite ready district (the film is situated in the early 60's when the reconstruction after the Second World War was not yet finished) on the one side and a nearby forest on the other side.

The set pieces that shape this environment are in my opinion the strongest point in the film. In the district there is a lot of social control and keeping up appearances. The forest is much more mysterious. In the forest the unconscious motivations of the characters get the upper hand.

I already said that "The Northerners" lacks the quality of "Abel". The main reason is that the (weird) characters are causing a lot of seperate funny incidents, but the film lacks an overall storyline.

There is the situation of a man being sexually frustrated because his wife becomes a religious fanatic and a woman being sexually frustrated because her man's infertility has made him afraid of sex. This situation has storyline potential, but van Warmerdam makes no optimal use of it.

I think this is the first of Warmedam that I have seen, but I immediately want more.

How wonderfully well Marlies plays the spoiled brat who pushes her staff to the limit and humiliates them.

Over the course of the film you discover that there is more to it in terms of relationship and family and the story takes a somewhat unexpected turn.

I think it was a twist that was a bit disappointing in terms of ending, but I thought the film as a whole was successful.

I actually expected that eventually someone from the staff would blow the fuse, but that turned out differently, a plot twist that left me with some mixed feelings.

Alex van Warmerdam is one of the very few Dutch directors whose films I can bear to watch. He has created a number of very good absurdistic movies (Abel, de Noorderlingen, de Jurk, kleine Teun), of which I liked de Noorderlingen best; its weird scenes are evidence of a wonderfully imaginative and free mind. Van Warmerdam has something of a voyeur, a trait which influences all his movies; what better setting could he choose than a hideously Dutch, `modern' village where all the people are continually spying on each other through their large front windows. Yet if you expect that all magic would have disappeared from such surroundings, think again.... there are fairies in the woods nearby and one inhabitant turns out to be holy.

I can tell you from personal experience that there exist Dutch people with a sense of humour, but if you don't believe me be sure to go and watch this movie.

This is a great little film, by turns funny, surreal, with a couple of scary moments (especially with the vulture on the bed, the crazy bird from the shoulder of the monk statue, and after the hunter is blinded, searching the forest).

Parts are reminiscent of Delicatessen (rebellious postman, mad butcher) and others are straight out of a grimm fairy tale (the scenes in the woods), however it is always engaging and well-acted. Although I think Dutch people will get more from the socio-historic context of the story, I think everyone can identify with the mixed-up lives of "ordinary people" in small, soulless towns. Weird!

don't try to understand this movie if you haven't lived in holland for a considerable time, this movie portrays in a very ironical way, the narrowminded attitude of the dutch people in the 60's. it is sharp and down to earth at the same time. i don't think non-dutchman will appreciate this movie, but you can always try! i am from holland and i thought it was a brillant satire, with good perfomances of a few well known dutch actors (including the director who also plays the role of the postman).i give it an 8 out of 10.