Hemel

(In Dutch with English subtitles)

The name "Hemel" as the movie is called is reference to the character played by Hannah Hoekstra, and at the opening she's already making out with someone. And at first, I thought the person she's making out with must either be her boyfriend or her spouse. The next thing I know, Hemel is dancing with some random guy- not the same guy at the opening at a nightclub, and she tries to hit on him with her advances and he's like 'that he is not like that'. Feeling somewhat rejected she then decide to go and sulk at the bar, with the second guy sitting next to her who is much more willing to make out with her, and they just like, met and are like, stranger's- in other words, she is as promiscuous as they come. And while watching this, one can made to wonder where does she get this from? Oh, look, this old guy, Gijs (Hans Dageletin) which she strut around naked sometimes happens to be her dad. Like a parent treating his or her naked baby. There's even a scene when her dad carries her to use the toilet. And if anyone were to wonder why we do not see Hemel like, work anywhere, it is because her dad, successful as a businessman pays for her security, including the flat that she lives in. And while Hemel loves to make out with different guys, her dad who is single loves to make out with different women. In other words, he is a womanizer who does not really know how to settle down. And it sometimes offends her as she sometimes ruins his relationships he has with other women. Directed by a woman by the name of Sacha Polak, as well as the script also by a woman by the name of Helena van der Meulen the movie is self-explanatory and would not have worked if it was directed and written by a man.

I don't get the negative reviews. I know this film isn't for everyone, it's kind of slow moving and depressing. I think it does however give an excellent portrayal of a young woman in a lot of pain. You have to feel so sorry for her, she's just lost. She's sad and sex is exactly how a lot of people deal with these feelings. Hannah Hoekstra does an amazing job portraying this character though she may be a little too pretty for the role, not that attractive people can't be sad too. I think the nudity is not gratuitous at all, it helps define the character. If you haven't seen Hemel, give it a chance.

Here is a psychological quality movie with razor sharp and often funny quotes, although there is not a huge amount of conversations in it. The storyline starts with daughter 'Hemel' who devours men. How do you detach from your parents. It is a movie that slowly crawls under your skin and makes you feel. And feel the pain. The movie contains strong intense screen shots and subtle supporting sounds/music combined with a layered story that is blended in a way of rare beauty. What starts as an apparent superficial movie (a dutch and very explicit, but not too shocking start), slowly unravels in questions of how do you detach from your parents, which tecniques do you use to be loved, do you hurt or get hurt, life and death, do you get enough attention and do you "miss the bus". The sex is more or less something that you have to look through to see what the movie really is about. Telling the story would spoil a lot of it, so my advice would be go and feel that movie.

After a slow start that seems to offer superficial gratuitous sex the film deepens and deepens through the courageous and mesmeric performance by Hannah Hoekstra. The cinematography, naturalistic camerawork, pithily Dutch dialogue, uncontrived performances and minimalist sound track manifest Sacha Polak's unpretentious direction. Hans Dagelet seems to fit like a glove into his role as the wearily urbane father.

I came away feeling that the father did not prepare Hemel for life without him. It's not a skin flick but simply a warning NOT to raise a daughter as this one did. She deserved better.