How do you turn a book that is mainly made up out of anecdotes into a coherent film? A: By expanding the role of the one character that glues all the different scenarios together (the doctor played by Jules Croiset). B: by adding a brand new comic relief (comedian Piet Bambergen as a contractor). And C: inventing a love story for both of them. And so the movie ends up with two main story lines: the doctor is in love with prim and proper school teacher Irene (Martine Bijl), while the contractor falls head over heels for hot gypsy woman Katja (Willeke van Ammelrooy). The doctor gets help from the town vicar (Ward de Ravet), while the builder has to do it on his own accord. Both of them end up in embarrassing predicaments before they get the girls.
Despite of these parallel plot lines, the film still shows a distinct lack of focus. There are many characters and plot lines that don't go anywhere and are unresolved. For instance, Contractor Bram is treated for worms by being buried up to his neck in the doctor's garden for a while. All the nuns take a swimming lesson that never leads to anything and the fate of the terminally ill Chrisje (Lou Steenbergen) is never adequately resolved. Near the end of the film Irene's employment becomes rather questionable, owing to her unorthodox teaching methods, but this is never fully addressed either.
Nikolai van der Heyde assembled a solid comedic cast to bring Toon Kortooms' novel of the same name to life. Apart from the ones mentioned above, there was Leen Jongewaard as the police officer (another character written especially for the film). And although she remains uncredited, Willeke van Ammelrooy's mother was portrayed by Willeke van Ammelrooy's mother. The movie was a hit, not in the least thanks to the appearance of Dutch sex bomb Van Ammelrooy, and inspired Toon Kortooms to sit down and write a sequel as soon as possible, which reached the silver screen six years later.
7 out of 10
Despite of these parallel plot lines, the film still shows a distinct lack of focus. There are many characters and plot lines that don't go anywhere and are unresolved. For instance, Contractor Bram is treated for worms by being buried up to his neck in the doctor's garden for a while. All the nuns take a swimming lesson that never leads to anything and the fate of the terminally ill Chrisje (Lou Steenbergen) is never adequately resolved. Near the end of the film Irene's employment becomes rather questionable, owing to her unorthodox teaching methods, but this is never fully addressed either.
Nikolai van der Heyde assembled a solid comedic cast to bring Toon Kortooms' novel of the same name to life. Apart from the ones mentioned above, there was Leen Jongewaard as the police officer (another character written especially for the film). And although she remains uncredited, Willeke van Ammelrooy's mother was portrayed by Willeke van Ammelrooy's mother. The movie was a hit, not in the least thanks to the appearance of Dutch sex bomb Van Ammelrooy, and inspired Toon Kortooms to sit down and write a sequel as soon as possible, which reached the silver screen six years later.
7 out of 10
