Frans Weisz always wanted to be an actor but when the acting school in Arnhem didn't accept him, he became the first to enroll in the brand new Filmacademie in Amsterdam. That same year, 1958, he starred in an 8 minute experimental student film directed by classmate Rob du Mée. However, his first real acting job also became his last, as he soon set his eye to directing and Du Mée swapped the directors chair for that of the producer.
The short was shot in Utrecht at the Moreelse Park because Rob du Mée was working as an intern at the Stichging Film En Wetenschap nearby and was allowed to make use of their camera equipment. By copying the French Nouvelle Vague wave of film-making, young Rob set out to make a surreal little piece about a young artist (Frans Weisz) who sets out to draw a building called 'De Inktpot' but becomes obsessed with two women, one dressed in black, the other in white and both played by Elly Slingenberg, who was familiar with artistic thoughts as she was studying to become a painter.
Armed with the knowledge that this is a student film, it is obvious that director Du Mée took great care in making sure each shot matched the previous one, that the relationship between the buildings and art at the location remained clear and that the music by jazz combo The Jimmy Giuffre Three complimented the action on screen. And of course as icing on the cake there is a special effect shot as the two versions of Elly Slingenberg climb the stairs of the 'Inktpot' and disappear into each other.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Filmacademie, Frans Weisz revisited Moreelse Park (literaly) by filming new footage of himself and his son and editing it into the original short. He also found and included a shot of young Du Mée and dedicated the finished product, 'Terug Naar Moreelse Park' to his long time collaborator who passed away in 2003.
7 out of 10
The short was shot in Utrecht at the Moreelse Park because Rob du Mée was working as an intern at the Stichging Film En Wetenschap nearby and was allowed to make use of their camera equipment. By copying the French Nouvelle Vague wave of film-making, young Rob set out to make a surreal little piece about a young artist (Frans Weisz) who sets out to draw a building called 'De Inktpot' but becomes obsessed with two women, one dressed in black, the other in white and both played by Elly Slingenberg, who was familiar with artistic thoughts as she was studying to become a painter.
Armed with the knowledge that this is a student film, it is obvious that director Du Mée took great care in making sure each shot matched the previous one, that the relationship between the buildings and art at the location remained clear and that the music by jazz combo The Jimmy Giuffre Three complimented the action on screen. And of course as icing on the cake there is a special effect shot as the two versions of Elly Slingenberg climb the stairs of the 'Inktpot' and disappear into each other.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Filmacademie, Frans Weisz revisited Moreelse Park (literaly) by filming new footage of himself and his son and editing it into the original short. He also found and included a shot of young Du Mée and dedicated the finished product, 'Terug Naar Moreelse Park' to his long time collaborator who passed away in 2003.
7 out of 10