Spoorloos (1988)

Director:

George Sluizer

Writers:

Tim Krabbé (novel)
Tim Krabbé (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

27 October 1988 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Rex and Saskia, a young couple in love, are on vacation. They stop at a busy service station and Saskia is abducted. After three years and no sign of Saskia, Rex begins receiving letters from the abductor.

Plot Keywords:

Abductor | Love | Psychopath | France | Murder

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu	...	Raymond Lemorne
Gene Bervoets	...	Rex Hofman
Johanna ter Steege	...	Saskia Wagter
Gwen Eckhaus	...	Lieneke
Bernadette Le Saché	...	Simone Lemorne
Tania Latarjet	...	Denise Lemorne
Lucille Glenn	...	Gabrielle 'Gaby' Lemorne
Roger Souza	...	Manager
Caroline Appéré	...	Cashier
Pierre Forget	...	Farmer Laurent
Didier Rousset	...	TV Journalist
Raphaeline	...	Gisele Marzin (as Raphaëline)
Robert Lucibello	...	Teacher
David Bayle	...	Lemorne (16 Years)
Doumee	...	Lady 'Prisunic' (as Doumée)
Eric Jacquet	...	Pump Attendant
Aziz Djahnit	...	Pump Attendant
Linda Wise	...	English Tourist
Ian Magilton	...	English Tourist
Mieke De Groote	...	Belgian Tourist
Jean Grandeau	...	German Tourist
Faustine Wuensche	...	Little Girl (as Faustine Wünsche)
Ghislaine Gazaix	...	Hitchhiker
M. Martinez	...	Cafe Owner
François Guizerix	...	Cop and Sports Commentator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reinier Verhoef	...	Evert (5 jaar) (uncredited)

Directed by
George Sluizer

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tim Krabbé		novel "The Golden Egg"
Tim Krabbé		screenplay
George Sluizer		adaptation

Produced by
Anne Lordon	....	producer
George Sluizer	....	producer

Original Music by
Henny Vrienten

Cinematography by
Toni Kuhn

Film Editing by
Lin Friedman
George Sluizer

Art Direction by
Santiago Isidro Pin

Costume Design by
Sophie Dussaud

Makeup Department
Léone Noël	....	makeup artist
Beppie van den Berg	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Anne Lordon	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Natasa Hanusová	....	first assistant director (as Natasa Hanusova)
Anouk Sluizer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
William Abello	....	sets and props
Eric Lussaud	....	set builder
Philippe Renucci	....	sets and props
Cor Spijk	....	art director: Holland
Serge Vassal	....	set builder

Sound Department
Stefan Kamp	....	assistant sound editor
Joop Pieëte	....	sound re-recording mixer
Piotr van Dijk	....	sound
Jac Vleeshouwers	....	sound assistant

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerard Keller	....	best boy electric
Kees Kroese	....	electrician
Jutka Rona	....	still photographer
Beat Scheidegger	....	gaffer
Jan van den Nieuwenhuyzen	....	clapper loader
Albert van der Wildt	....	additional camera operator
Appie Vermeeren	....	grip
Jan Wich	....	additional camera operator
Jan Wich	....	assistant camera
Thijs Wijdeveld	....	key grip

Casting Department
François Guizerix	....	casting: France
Jeannette Snik	....	casting advisor: Holland

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Caroline Hartman	....	dresser

Other crew
Jean-Claude Bernière	....	production assistant
Farideh Fardjam	....	actor's coach
Lin Friedman	....	production coordinator
François Guizerix	....	production assistant
Henri Steen	....	location manager: Holland
Leonie Valckx	....	continuity
Trix van Alphen	....	publicity assistant
Guillaume Voire	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Argos Films
• Golden Egg
• Ingrid Productions
• MGS Film
• Movie Visions

Distributors

• Meteor Film Productions (1988) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Pathé (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Tara (1990) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Fox/Lorber Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• NCA Pictures (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

L'homme qui voulait savoir (France)
The Vanishing (International: English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Netherlands | France

Language:

Dutch | French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-11 (2005) | Iceland:16 | France:-12 | Netherlands:16 | UK:12 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Buitenveldert, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Argos Films

Trivia:

The central plot of the film (and the novel on which it is based) is from an archetype Urban Legend related to the Paris Exposition of 1901. A woman and her daughter travel to Paris for the exhibition, and whilst the woman unpacks, the daughter goes to a nearby shop. When she returns to the hotel, the mother is gone, and no one in the hotel remembers having seen her. The idea also formed for the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938), Terrence Fisher's So Long at the Fair (1950), Robert Fuest's And Soon the Darkness (1970) and Philip Leacock's Dying Room Only (1973) (TV).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Lemorne women are running towards the canal to help Raymond and the little girl, Simone is seen wearing a pink blouse with a green jacket. The next scene shows her wearing a black spaghetti-strapped shirt. When the family is seen leaving, Simone is wearing her original outfit.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Rex Hofman: Saskia!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003) (TV)

Horrifying

This movie gave me nightmares for...well, I'm still having them. Rex and Saskia are a young couple on vacation. They stop at a gas station, Saskia goes inside and never returns. Rex becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her and, when at last faced with the man who abducted Saskia, finally has the chance to find out. But there's one condition: Rex must surrender himself to Saskia's abductor and agree to experience the same thing she herself went through. The only trouble is, he has no idea what that might be, or even whether Saskia is alive or dead. Rex believes that the Not Knowing is the worst thing, but it isn't. The Knowing is the most horrible thing of all.

This is a powerful film that practically punches you in the stomach with its gritty realism. The performances are flawless and haunting, and the climax and aftermath, delivered with a quiet matter-of-factness, are the very definition of horror. This is real horror, the kind we try not to think about but which can happen, and has. If this film doesn't disturb you, I can't think of anything that will. Highly recommended, but only for people who are emotionally equipped to deal with the fear and the terror that the camera never flinches from. People with claustrophobia would be wise to stay far away from this film.