Zondebokken
This title translates as scapegoats or fall guys.
Perhaps the former translation fits the theme of the film best.
The Bokkerijders, buck riders or goat riders, a18th century gang that was active in the areas of Maas and Overmaas nowadays known as the provinces of Dutch Limburg and Belgian Limburg but also some parts of Germany. Through the years they got a legendary almost mythical status. The gangs speak to the imagination of many people from Limburg, Belgian, Dutch and German... And outside these borders too. Especially after the TV series from the 90's. Based on the gang of Kirchoffs in 's Hertogenrath, until recently the only adaption on screen of the story.
The new movie, written and produced by Rocky Grispen, covers the Zeitgeist of when these gangs were operational.
It's at the end of the ancient regime just prior to the French Revolution. The impoverished population of the Belgian Meuse area, plagued by disease, famine and poverty as a result of many wars coming with the quartering of foreign armies, now also have to deal with a gang... a gang of arsonists, blackmailers, thieves, burglars and cutthroats... Making use of an ancient popular belief and superstition as well the notoriety of the great gangs from the Dutch province of Limburg to exercise their terror unhindered.
In the film we follow these events from the viewpoint of two law enforcers who are called to put an end to this phenomenon.
This film is produced on pure enthusiasm, without subsidy. This is after the film about our local traveling merchants 'De teuten' produced by Ronny Buteneers and Relinde Paredis the second film that's been filmed in our own area that sheds light on and puts our local history into the limelight.
The beauty of the film is it's timeless character, things we still see nowadays. On one hand is it handy t have a bit of background knowledge about the history and the story of the Goatriders and the law enforcers that put an end to them. The Flemish book ' Het zwarte Gild van de Bokkerijders' By Jaak Vencken which paints a romanticized view of the accounts can help.
On the other hand throughout the years there has been written many books about the gangs each having its own vision. Not a single one of these books has succeeded in piercing the shrouds and myths around these gangs nor were they able to bring clarity to the matter, on the contrary with each book the plot only thickens.
This also comes across in the movie.
However... The red common thread running throughout the film is 'the elite'
The introduction alone with all it's marvelous animations was worth the visit. Further the music, the acting, the locations...Not the least the accent of this county Limburg more specific the area near the Meuse... It's a beautiful film... and not just beautiful for a no-budget film, it's a beautiful film. But no-budget, lots of love for the project and a lot of enthusiasm and creativity have been proven to produce the better films in the past as well.
I am not able to tell any more about it without spoiling the film, go see it! Perhaps best without pre-knowledge or baggage. Do the research afterwards. That's another thing I have to give the film, it instilled myself and plenty other viewer with a thirst for knowledge and the urge to dive into the background history and stories of the film...
The timing of the film is also perfect... at this time between All Saints and Christmas, the time of the wild hunt, the flying spirits, Odin's ghostly hunting party soaring through the night skies... The very legend the Goat riders made use of.
In short highly recommended, not only to people from Belgian and Dutch Limburg, but to anyone interested in the history of 18th century in the Low-Countries... To understand what happens today, you sometimes have to look at the past!
