Rocco & Sjuul is a new comedy drama directed by Anna van der Heide, director of the lovers and Brammetje Baas.
Sjuul (Beppie Melissen) seems to have lived her life in her old age. Her old husband is ill and suffering from dementia, so she has to take care of him together with her children.
When Sjuul meets her old childhood love Rocco (Sabri Saad El-Hamus) again, she learns that she can also continue her old life in a different way. Rocco still celebrates life and goes through his life dancing. The two used to dance together a lot and when they do this together again, they are faced with the choice of hanging out together again. This will only go against family expectations.
This film shows in a positive way how difficult it can be for older people in their old age. Despite this age, they often still try to have fun in their lives. To do this, sometimes all they need is the help or understanding of their loved ones.
In addition to the positive aspects that the film tries to make more known in these ways, they have unfortunately not always balanced this and their dramatic aspects well. Sjuul's partner has poorer health and therefore needs help from care, but also from his loved ones. When Sjuul tries to relive her youth with Rocco in pleasant ways, these aspects are somewhat pushed into the background of the film.
For a better and more understanding story, they should have had her partner die in the story. The film could have been more like the film Dirty Grandpa starring Robert De Niro. Older people may still have their needs after the death of their partner.
Beppie Melissen and Sabri Saad El-Hamus have good chemistry together in the film. If the film had played more as a comedy, the two of them could have had more opportunities to play the roles in a more balanced way. Then the message of the film would probably have been conveyed better.
