06/05

Nice dutch movie about conspiracy theory's considering the murder of Pim Fortuin. I think it's a good document for dutch viewers to re-live the events pre- and post six may 2001. The plot is pretty good, as we could expect from Ross but the acting is a little rough sometimes. Every time I see someone handling a gun in a dutch movie it seems strange to me. Only LEK succeeded in making that work (for me). It's definitely a movie a for many people in The Netherlands to see, especially because it's the last movie Theo van Gogh made before he was killed by a crazy SOAB. It's funny to see the voting on this movie. 38 When i'm writing this and about half votes it a 10 and the other half votes for a 1. That's an example of how this is still a subject in the dutch society and this might be compared to a dutch JFK. It's a pity van Gogh couldn't get actors that are the same quality as JFK or even find one that speaks proper English!

Being of Dutch origin and reading Dutch newspapers almost daily, I should have known about the existence of this film. But I did not. By accident I came across this DVD at my favorite movie-letter. This is the first full length Dutch feature film I ever saw and I must say, I am impressed. It is a very typical Dutch film-too much emphasis on family problems and never ending discussions about understanding each other-, the story though is very acceptingly with the stumbling role of the Dutch version of the CIA (the AIVD)and the political lack of interest in finding out the truth. Pim Fortuyn was too big for Holland, his violent death was too much for the rather closed and upright society, that Holland in fact still is. The repetition of the things politicians of that time ventilated about Fortuyn was shocking and amazing. It is obvious that Holland is still suffering about his loss and about the circumstances that lead to his brutal death.The wound is too fresh to be dealt with in a objective manner. Theo van Gogh tried to do that and was also murdered, although for different reasons, you might think. But there is a connection for sure.

A shocking assassination of a controversial public figure, muddy, insufficient explanation, hence a logical ground for a conspiracy theories. If you add that the director of the movie gets murdered himself, soon after finishing this film,it all gets even more convoluted. Pim Fortuyn was labeled with the extremist labels, racism, intolerance, but he was much more complex person. An open homosexual, asking hard but not unfair questions. Without any answers or useful suggestions, he was smeared and easily dismissed. And shortly after killed. The movie is powerful, but little disjointed , as if the director wasn't sure himself of his intentions.

Theo Van Gogh's movie about the murder of Pim Fortuyn is an absolute masterpiece. It shows the real 'sinister' interests behind this dramatic coup d'état. Pim Fortuyn would have won the next elections in the Netherlands and would probably have been the next Dutch Prime Minister in 2005. With his more or less liberal, pro-market agenda, Pim Fortuyn was acceptable for the rightist political and economic powers and their media, until … it appeared that he would not respect the Dutch NATO obligations (e.g., the purchase of brand new fighter planes), and would instead spend the huge sums available on more social programs. From that moment on, he became an outcast, an outlaw, free to be killed by any person who could be manipulated by the forces Pim Fortuyn had unleashed against him. He was shot dead under the eyes of the secret services.

One of his main media opponents was the socialist (?) TV commentator MVD. This man is the perfect example of the adage 'do as I say, not as I do'. He defended passionately with his mouth the underdogs and the poor immigrants, while building a mansion of more than 2 million euro in his backyard. If anyone in the Netherlands had done the same, only one tenth of the actual Dutch population would have found a place to live there.

This movie is a must see for all those who want to understand the world we live in.

Found this movie in the library, had never heard of it, although i had read of Van Gogh's murder. Interesting to see the casting of Americans as the money-men behind the plot to assassinate Pim. this would probably not have appeared in such a routine, "everybody knows" manner if this were an American film. But if it were an American film, it wouldn't have been made at all. we in the US are pretty protected from news about what our weapons manufacturers are really doing. It helps us to not understand things like Iraq, prepares us to believe whatever Bush tells us. funny to run across this detail in a European movie. I believe it explains so much. But about the movie, see it. What do idealists do, when the money is all against them? What do lovers do when they're blackmailed by the cops? Is every woman in Holland that beautiful? Is it possible to love someone for their posture?