Win/Win

The charismatic actor Oscar Van Rompay takes you behind the gleaming glass facades of the ivory tower to where the noise of success means everything, even amidst the deep fall of the economy. The opening title sequence is great, so go in to see that, and stick around, it is time well spent.

The opening, coupled with the fresh upbeat soundtrack, made the audience smile right off the bat. The visually creative cinematography lets us wander through Amsterdam at night due to Ivan's insomnia, visualize and thus feel the texture of the rug when he takes his shoes off, and smell the cigarettes on the sidewalk outside a bar with the receptionist at work. On other counts, it never takes itself too seriously, with light and humorous touches, balanced by the maxim that what rises up must always fall.

I must admit the fact that Ivan, the main character is a gawky nerd who can do calculus in his head really stuck a chord with me. I heard mixed reviews in the SIFF press screening on the way out.