Fred is a lonely 54-year-old man. Since the death of his wife, he has lived alone in a small village. His son disappeared from his life years ago. Fred rides around in the local bus, virtuously attending church and eating his green beans, meat and potatoes at 6 o’clock on the dot every day.
One day, the tramp Theo wanders into his life. After an initial moment of suspicion, Fred takes Theo in. Like a strict father, he tries to educate his new housemate. He soon finds out that Theo has a special talent, as a result of which Fred again slowly starts to set out into the wide world.
The style of this tragicomic story can in some ways be compared with the absurdism of Alex van Warmerdam. While the story is set in the present, the Dutch atmosphere of the 1950s presses heavily on the characters. The production design is also beautifully attuned to the God-fearing, stern mood the Dutch know so well.
- Director
- Diederik Ebbinge
- Premiere
- World premiere
- Country of production
- Netherlands
- Year
- 2013
- Festival Edition
- IFFR 2013
- Length
- 87'
- Medium
- DCP
- Language
- Dutch
- Producer
- Gijs van de Westelaken
- Production Company
- Column Film
- Sales
- Column Film
- Screenplay
- Diederik Ebbinge
- Cinematography
- Dennis Wielaert
- Editor
- Michiel Reichwein
- Production Design
- Elza Kroonenberg
- Sound Design
- Giel van Geloven
- Cast
- Ariane Schluter, René van 't Hof, Ton Kas
- Local Distributor
- Cinéart Netherlands
- Website
- http://www.columnfilm.com/matterhorn