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The director Alex van Warmerdam is known in Holland for his film "Abel", a comedy about a man who refused to grow up and who still lives with his parents, at the age of 26. The film, "De jurk" (the dress) also starts out like a comedy, but the longer you watch, the less you feel the need to laugh. The lives of unrelated people touch because of the dress and totally unrelated events suddenly fit into the story because of the dress. I could not discover a message in the film, probably because there is none. I found the film very entertaining, but was surprised that it turned out rather black and grim.

I read somewhere that we can lie in the language of dress or try to tell the truth but unless we are naked and bald, it is impossible to be silent.

I simply don't know how to begin my story about the movie De Jurk (The Dress). I'm overwhelmed by many emotions. Blue dress with leaves… My God, this is the story I never expected!

De Jurk is a tale about the journey of one interesting dress, from the day it was envisioned and created, through the lives of many owners and until the end, when the dress has finally fulfilled its strange purpose.

There are actually several tales but they are developing from each other and some characters keep reappearing. The stories are weird and funny but also quite disturbing and obscene. There is a lot of violence, unexpected situations, comedy and drama. You just don't know if you should laugh and where all of that is going to end!

Is this the story about the people or about the dress? I guess both. We are attracted by certain objects. We all have our favorite pair of shoes for example. Some people believe that certain shirts or pair of socks can bring them luck and so on. Well why not? But it seems like this dress keeps bringing bad luck to its owners. I swear the dress in question is cursed! LOL

Some people said: Yes, the movie is interesting but what's the message? Indeed, it might look like there is none. However, for myself, behind all crazy happenings, there is a quest for love and there is the message. Absolutely all characters in this movie desperately search for love in one way or another. We all define love differently, just like the dream of one person can be a nightmare for another person. Same is with happiness. Sometimes we need so little, just one kiss or hug. Sometimes our search became obsession.

The entire cast of De Jurk was excellent and all characters are well developed and equally interesting. The story is simply great and director Alex van Warmerdam has done an excellent job. As usual, he played in his movie and this time he is a train conductor. Don't miss it!

Tales of Manhattan had a tuxedo. The Dress has a dress. There the similarity ends. What follows if a very smart, often disturbing parade of lives of people who happen to come in contact with a particularly hideous dress. It arouses unexpected, overwhelming lust in some, nothing in others, but it's a sure bet that if you have the dress you're in for something strange and probably not very pleasant.

The intriguing threads that bind this tapestry of frustrated longing together are a failed textile manufacturer and an obssessed ticket taker, who voices the movies' sad and in his case, misapplied motto: "I'm normal!" Here everyone and no one is.

The wit is subtle and sharp as a scalpel. All actors are excellent--especially unnerving is van Warmerdam himself as the doomed ticket taker. Pay very close attention to the faces and names of characters. They are sign posts for things to come.

(1996) De jurk/ The Dress (In Dutch with English subtitles) COMEDY DRAMA

Music, co-produced, written and directed by Vincent van Warmerdam dwelling the entire movie on a particular dress from the time it was thought up to the time it was developed. And as soon as it is purchased from a middle age lady, and out of chance, it gets blown away while it was hung up to dry on a clothing line. To it being discovered and then worn by a passerby (Ariane Schluter). And it becomes much more weird, when the ticket collector, Van Tilt (Henri Garcin) who works in a train becomes entranced by the dress to the extent of falling in love with anyone who wears it. As Joanne (Ariane Schluter) was wearing it on the train as she was heading straight home. She was hoping her painter husband would pay more attention to her, and the only thing that it did was motivate him to paint it on to his canvas.

This will be the fifth film I have watched by Alex van Warmerdam and they have all been strange no doubt and they have all been good except for Little Tony which was ok but didnt compare to the others.

The first film I saw of his was Borgman several years ago and it has always stuck with me. Like all of his movies, different, strange, odd, surreal. The Dress is another somewhat surreal tale that follows a dress from its conception through the manufacturing process, and as it is worn by its various possessors. Most of those who came in contact with the dress came to some mischief. If Grimm would have been rated PG, then this one would probably have to be R, with a good bit of nudity, adult situations, and a certain creep factor. With these five films under my belt, I can definitely say I am a fan of the director's work. Quite an interesting filmmaker with a unique vision. I have several more of his films all queued up.