Cloaca

This is a tv movie and it shows, production value seems low and cinematography regarding, it's not that beautiful to watch. However, since it's based on a theatrical play, all this are not important. There are other things to enjoy here, for instance the script. It's a clever script, characters are well written and the problems they face, seem real and relatable. Specially if you are over 30-35 years old.

Furthermore, the acting, every actor here did a good job.

This is a good comedy/drama: You won't laugh out loud but there are some funny scenes, some emotional ones, overall it was an interesting movie, maybe not exciting neither a movie which will stay with you.

Most fans of this subgenre will probably like it. I would prefer a different ending, perhaps less melodramatic but still, it was not bad at all.

It's been a while since I saw this film, but the one thing I remember best is the fact I was so unimpressed by the acting. While I was still living in Holland, a friend of the family said: 'if you want to see the creme de la creme of Dutch acting, rent this film!' So I did and I wasn't impressed in the least by the unconvincing Dutch actors. Seeing British and (fair enough) a few American actors on screen, you believe they are the people they're portraying. But in this film, I'm sad to say, I had the feeling that the four main actors were very uncomfortable, undoubtedly did their best, but the outcome is nothing much... If you like arty films and are a fan of any of the actors, go and rent it... But if you really want to see a good Dutch film, rent 'Van God Los'. That was far better than this, (this was, to sum up: a rather weak effort to make it feel like a good film). and based on real events.

A cloaca is the rear body opening of an animal that serves as the only opening for the digestive (rectum), reproductive, and urinary tracts (Wikipedia). In this film however it is the word with which a group of study friends greet each other. They did so when they were at the university and they still do as forty-somethings. Being Latin in origin the word sounds chic but has a rather down to earth meaning.

There are many films about study friends meeting each other at a reunion later in life. "The big chill" (1983, Lawrence Kasdan) and "The return of the secaucus 7" (1979, John Sayles) comes to my mind. Although I have seen neither of them I think I can imagine the main theme. Former idealism has gone and boring daily routine has taken its place.

"Cloaca" is different. In Cloaca the main characters are not just disillusioned, their life is a mess.

Joep (Gijs Scholten van Aschat) is hoping to become minister in the next government but at the same time his marriage is such a wreck that his wife has put him outside the house.

Maarten (Jaap Spijkers) is a director just before the opening night of his new play. He has an affair with one of the actresses, bareley 18 years old. This actress turns out to be the daughter of Joep.

Tom (Peter Blok) is a lawyer recovering from a cocaine addiction.

Pieter (Pierre Bokma) is a civil servant working on the department that implements the subsidy scheme for artists. Every year at his birthday he is allowed to handpick a painting that otherwise would be stored in the municipal warehouse. This arrangement is however unofficial. When a painter dies and his work becomes very expensive the municipality wants his work back. In the meantime Pieter has however sold some of the paintings to cover daily expenses.

When these troubled friends come together the central question is if their problems have made them selfish or is there still some loyalty left? The answer is only given at the denouement. Up till then there is a "not with or without you" sentiment between men only. The dialogues are razor sharp reminding me of "Who is afraid of Virginia Woolf' (1966, Mike Nichols), although in this film the "not with or without you" sentiment relates to a marriage and not to a friendship.

There are some comic scenes, such as the silly dance on the music of Madness the friends perform for Joep at his birthday. Most of all however I remember some beautiful images. One of them is the actress (yes the one Maarten is having an affair with) smeared with mud that is rinsed off her naked body during the final scene of the play. This image made it to the poster. More impressive and more meaningful however is the image of a boat with four student on it sailing through the canals of the city. One student is playing a piano, the others are drinking beer. This image occurs twice in the movie. Is it real or is it a memory? I am inclined to think the last.

Any man should recognize himself in one of the four male characters in this picture. The way these men try (!) to open up to each other demonstrates the difficulties men always had and will have to deal with emotions, friendship, loyalty and relationships. With some (hilarious) subtle jokes, intertwined in strong dialogs and acting, these topics are clearly not men's favorite. Yet, this picture demonstrates that men are eager to to be sensing creatures, even if nature did not make them that way. Women should see this movie instead of any Oprah-like show about understanding the opposite sex. At least one woman has these insights and she wrote this wonderful story!

Even though this is 'just' a TV movie, it has the look and feel of 'real cinema'.

The lead roles are played by Dutch stage actors (the movie is based on a successful stage play with the same name, featuring the same actors), but most of these actors were in motion pictures and TV films before, so they know very well (or even remarkably well) how not to play to the balcony.

The cinematography is simply beautiful and the editing is what I would call 'fluent'. A nice rhythm of long, medium and close-up shots and some dolly work at the right times. Some Dutch movies try to look like a reality-TV show, but this one has cinematic qualities.

Since the main theme is friendship eroded by ambition, secrets, and betrayal, it does not really matter that the storyline and settings are a bit 'overburdened' (I mean, a future cabinet minister, a stage director chasing the lead actress in his play, a homosexual civil servant accused of stealing paintings, and an attorney with a cocaine addiction and a tendency to cut himself up - that's richer than Holland's Golden Age ..).

The supporting roles are fine, with Laura (the 18-year old daughter of one of the friends and femme fatale for one of the other friends) delivering some magnificent Lolita eye candy.

Well done, and good news for Dutch cinema. This movie deserves to be on wide-screen celluloid in a theater near you.

8/10.