This film revolves around Martje, who lives a desolate existence as boss of a laundry company. The fact that she has one breast (probably due to the fact she in the past had breast-cancer), has made her feel undesirable and unwanted as a female. She indulges in her work as this is one of the few places she is in total control. Then Loe comes in to her life, applying for the job as laundry-truck driver. There is an instant chemistry between the two and this develops till he discovers has one breast. She hadn't told him about this as this was an emotional issue for her, and tells him to leave, probably not wanting to show her weakness over this, and starts to weep. Her employees take this as sexual harassment, and pursue to lock Loe up in the boiler-room. Martje goes along with this and leaves him in there, where his howling and calling can't be heard over the loud machinery. The employees think she has told Loe to leave, as she begins to fantasize about a life with in the south, where he told her he worked as truck driver before. This goes on for days, and his wife comes looking for him, which makes her angry as he tried it on with her. The employees start to get suspicious, because the machines aren't aloud to be turned off, but they have complete faith in Martje. Martje regains more and more of her female side, and starts to plan for the day she will leave with Loe for the south, as Loe's muttering is now barely understandable as the result of no food or water. As the day comes her spirits are up, and she looks nice and wears make up, which she never did. She makes a candle lit dinner with all the trimmings, and opens the boiler room door, where we find Loe lying there, motionless. She lies next him, sipping him wine and chicken and talking to him, as if he were alive. Unexpectedly, one of the employees comes back to find her lying next to Loe, and Martje acts as if everything is okay. The employees lures her out of the room, and tries to burn the place with Loe in it, in an effort to protect Martje, but she is very protective over Loe. The employee escapes and leaves Martje in the factory with Loe, holding him.
I found the film gripping as a whole, and the acting is short from outstanding, although it was very depressing. Where you start to sympathize with Martje and her situation, this moves to Loe, as you realize Martje is losing it. But you also sympathize with Martje more and more, as you realize that she is emotionally deformed. This was exceptionally gripping, considering her return to normality from the outset. There are no bad people in this movie, only victims, which makes the film very sad and a certain tear-jerker. The powerlessness of Loe in a situation where he knows he's going to die, no matter what he does, is one which will give me sleepless nights. A very good and very desolate movie.
I found the film gripping as a whole, and the acting is short from outstanding, although it was very depressing. Where you start to sympathize with Martje and her situation, this moves to Loe, as you realize Martje is losing it. But you also sympathize with Martje more and more, as you realize that she is emotionally deformed. This was exceptionally gripping, considering her return to normality from the outset. There are no bad people in this movie, only victims, which makes the film very sad and a certain tear-jerker. The powerlessness of Loe in a situation where he knows he's going to die, no matter what he does, is one which will give me sleepless nights. A very good and very desolate movie.
