User reviews

Jeroen Krabbe plays an uncertain person ('t Hart) in this biographical story. This uncertainty is particularly formed by his religion, and the impact of the religion reflected on his parents (read: father). His mother is his only support in his life, and because he has no other essential friends, he starts to worship his mother (the so-called Oedipus-phenomenon).

All these things that occurred to him, can be seen in the several flashbacks. He gets embittered by the fact that his father dies in the easy way, and his mother dies a painful death, what happens in present time. 't Hart has now reached the age of 35, and still is a virgin. The actual story is about a compelling dream he has, in which he has to share his bed with a girl in this next week, or else he would die. As the week passes, he tries to conquer his feelings of uncertainty by talking to his other (outgoing) side, and his surroundings.

Next to the good story, this movie gives a good picture about how people lived and thought in the west of the Netherlands (in the flashbacks), during the years after worldwar II ('50s-'60s).

While you see the movie a certain sympathy is created with the main character. The film is for a great part biographical, and hence if you are familiar with the works of Maarten 't Hart, I would recommend this movie.