Temmink

When there has been another outburst of ‘senseless violence’ in the country, one often hears that the aggressive bastards should be locked up in a cage to fight it out. This favourite reaction on the letters’ page has been put into practice in Temmink. There is an ‘Arena’ for people with the ‘aggression gene’. After a severe selection procedure, covered by the new euthanasia law, Temmink (a wonderful role by Jack Wouterse) is allowed into the Arena. Like the other gladiators in the fights broadcast life on TV, he was unable to live with his frustrations about his uncontrollable aggression. He wins his first fight to the death. He blossoms and falls in love with one of the girls who have to care for the gladiators. He also befriends a colleague. But then the girl resigns her job because she doesn’t want a relationship with a condemned man. When his friend then dies in a fight, Temmink can only find solace in his own fights. He grows to become one of the most popular gladiators in the country.Temmink is part of a series of four films that have been realised by the Dutch Film Fund, VPRO TV and several young production companies. The theme that links them together is the approaching new millennium. See also: The Polish Bride, Tate’s Trip and ƒ19.99.