Fien de la Mar, born in 1898 into a famous Amsterdam theatre family, was the greatest pre-war actress of the Netherlands. At 18, she was already performing at the Carré Theatre, where wildly enthusiastic reactions ushered in a golden career. De la Mar could do anything, from cabaret and revue to operetta and film. But what set her apart was her overwhelming presence. She moved with animal sensuality, let words roll off her tongue with a natural languor and was able to make a complete auditorium swoon with one sultry glance.
It’s all amply illustrated by the film fragments and theatre registrations Annette Apon dug up from EYE’s archives. Actress Johanna ter Steege, admirer of De la Mar, provides commentary on the footage. Excerpts from interviews with people around De la Mar complete this unique portrait of the Dutch diva. She was the greatest, the most volatile – and in the end, unable to cope with it all.
Film details
- Country of production
- Netherlands
- Year
- 2016
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2016
- Length
- 71"
- Medium/Format
- DCP
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