# Karakter (1997)

### reviewed by
Nathaniel R. Atcheson

    Character (1997)

Director: Mike van Diem Cast: Fedja Van Huet, Jan Decleir, Betty Schuurman, Victor Low, Tamar van den Dop, Hans Kesting, Lou Landre Screenplay: Mike van Diem, Laurens Geels, Ruud van Megen Producers: Laurens Geels Runtime: 120 min. US Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics Rated R: violence

By Nathaniel R. Atcheson (nate@pyramid.net)

Many films feature strange and convoluted family relations, but few show them with the emotional strength and visual presentation of Mike van Diem's Character. This is the first picture I've seen of the five that were nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film this year; I can't say that this one is better than the others, but I am certainly not disappointed with its winning of the award. This is a strong, bold film, powered by superb central performances from Fedja Van Huet and Jan Decleir, and by some of the most striking imagery to come out of any film in the last year.

Character, which takes place in the Netherlands around the 1930s, revolves around young Katadreuffe (Van Huet), a young man who, at the beginning of the picture, is seen confronting an aging man who has apparently worked against him his entire life. The story then jumps ahead of time; the older man is dead, and Katadreuffe is being interrogated by police officers. The young man then tells his story, beginning with his birth. It turns out that the older man, Dreverhaven (Decleir), is Katadreuffe's father. Katadreuffe goes on to explain his life story to the police officers.

He speaks of his mother, Joba (Betty Schuurman), with whom he did not get along. He explains his failed efforts to begin his own business, and his love for reading the few books he had at his disposal. When he is old enough, he goes to work at a law firm, and a lawyer named De Gankelaar (Victor Low) takes Katadreuffe under his wing. Katadreuffe is forced to borrow a large sum of money at one point, and it turns out that the bank from which he takes the loan is his father's bank. From that point on, the two men clash with animosity, and Katadreuffe does everything that he can to beat his father.

Character tells a deep and immersive story of a complex father/son relationship, but, on the surface, it's a fascinating and absorbing film, always interesting to look at and effective as entertainment. Van Diem, who also co-wrote, does a fantastic job with direction, and keeps the pacing swift and smooth throughout the picture. The production design, by Rikke Jelier, is interestingly colorless and fantastically dark; the city streets and building interiors have such an authentic feel to them that I never once questioned the on-screen image. Rogier Stoffers' cinematography is agitated and fascinating to watch; also splendid is the heavy musical score by Paleis van Boem, full of thick stringed instruments that fit the mood of the film perfectly.

The acting from the two leading men is superb. Van Huet is a striking presence, and plays this character with depth and complexity. Katadreuffe is an interesting person to begin with -- dignified, determined, and extremely intelligent. Van Huet conveys all of this and more, layering the performance in brilliant subtleties and nuances (watch how his demeanor changes in numerous ways depending on his situation). Decleir is equally good, but in different ways. I sometimes criticize a film for having a one-note villain (I shouldn't refer to this man as a "villain," actually), but there's more to this performance than is outwardly noticeable. He seems like a bad man, but what he actually does for his son warrants much consideration.

There is so much to admire about the smooth and complete way that Van Diem has brought this subject to the screen. The film relies a lot on plot and story, but without bogging down the characters in contrivances and Things that Make you Think Twice. I like how the story is character-driven, but still features many interesting turns throughout. And, even though the film is inherently sad and has several tragic moments, Van Diem never sentimentalizes the material.

But there's something profound at the center of Character. The title itself explains a lot of what the film is about -- are Dreverhaven's intentions deeper than they first appear? I think that they are. Viewers must remember that this is a man who has tried hard to be an influence in his son's life. He is a stern man -- perhaps he's just plain mean -- but Van Diem is too smart to make this a character whose intentions are clear. Character is a film that never goes beyond its boundaries -- it's a slick, entertaining, and honest picture about a relationship so strange that it actually qualifies as realistic.

    ***1/2 out of ****
    (8/10, A-)

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               Nathaniel R. Atcheson

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