Van God Los (2003)

Director:

Pieter Kuijpers

Writers:

Pieter Kuijpers
Paul Jan Nelissen (writer)

Release Date:

24 April 2003 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Keihard En Confronterend (Rock Hard and In Your Face)

Plot:

Two small town Dutch boys whose socially unnatural friendship is so close, they care nothing for human or divine rules and lose all grip on reality, sliding into violent crime.

Plot Keywords:

Dutch | Gang | Boy | Money | Small Town

Awards:

7 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Egbert Jan Weeber	...	Stan Meijer
Tygo Gernandt	...	Maikel Verheije
Angela Schijf	...	Anna Sprengers
Mads Wittermans	...	Sef
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Selma Avkapan	...	Granddaughter of Osman
Tamer Avkapan	...	Nadir
Marnie Blok	...	Joke
Bacha Chilaia	...	Frank
Loek Ewalds	...	Police officer 1
Mark Kleuskens	...	Police Officer 2
Cemil Kurtgözu	...	Suleyman
Pim Lambeau	...	Mevr. van de Velde
Frits Lambrechts	...	Dhr. van de Velde
Johnny Lion	...	Johan Schreurs
Peter Post	...	East-European man
Harry van Rijthoven	...	Bert
Ronald Schuurbiers	...	East-European man
Ergun Simsek	...	Hassan
Els Ingeborg Smits	...	Moeder Anna
Huub Stapel	...	Herbert Meijer
Alden Susa	...	Boy at funeral
Diego Teixeira	...	Stan (11 years)
Brader Torun	...	Osman
Mike van den Akker	...	Friend of Yuri
Deryl van Mieghem	...	Yuri
Joop Wittermans	...	Vader Anna
Helmert Woudenberg	...	Inspecteur Geukers

Directed by
Pieter Kuijpers

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Pieter Kuijpers
Paul Jan Nelissen		writer

Produced by
Hanneke Niens	....	producer
Reinier Selen	....	producer
Anton Smit	....	producer

Original Music by
Paleis van Boem

Cinematography by
Bert Pot

Film Editing by
Job ter Burg

Casting by
Nora Mullens

Production Design by
Ruben Schwartz
Robert van der Hoop

Set Decoration by
Raoul Chailloux
Barry Parker

Costume Design by
Jacqueline Steylen

Makeup Department
Carola Broekhoff	....	special makeup effects artist
Rogier Samuels	....	special makeup effects artist
Lia Van der Horst	....	key hair stylist
Lia Van der Horst	....	key makeup artist
Suzette van Rooyen	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Bernadette Bout	....	production manager
Chris Jorna	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richt Martens	....	assistant director
Joost Van Schie	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Elise Menick	....	assistant property master
Taco Regtien	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Antoin Cox	....	production sound mixer
Herman Pieëte	....	sound re-recording mixer
Herman Pieëte	....	supervising sound editor
Bianca Steenhagen	....	foley artist
Sil Stranders	....	assistant production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Michel Jancso	....	special effects technician
Harrie Wiessenhaan	....	special effects (as Harry Wiessenhaan)

Stunts
Willem de Beukelaer	....	stunt coordinator
Ronald Schuurbiers	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Rick David	....	assistant camera
Evelien Ham	....	electrician
Thomas Kool	....	electrician
Martijn Koot	....	key grip
Bas Losekoot	....	still photographer
Joost van Poppel	....	Steadicam operator
Erik Van Wouden	....	gaffer
Herman Verschuur	....	assistant camera: "b" camera
Sheng Yong Cheng	....	video assist operator
Roger van Zaal	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claudia Damman	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Romy de Haan	....	negative cutter
Renzo Scanu	....	negative scanner
John Thorborg	....	colorist (special edition)
Boris Trentelman	....	color timer

Other crew
Thijs Dehé	....	production intern: post-production coordinator
Philippe Hefting	....	caterer
Jascha Joseph	....	location manager
Ivo Martijn	....	distribution advisor
Brenda Matthijs	....	publicity manager
Eric Nootebos	....	production assistant
Kenzo Overbeeke	....	production assistant
Michel Salèh	....	caterer
Noumi Seguin	....	production assistant
Ernie Tee	....	scenario consultant
Trix van Alphen	....	publicist
Maarten-Jan van der Vreede	....	caterer

Production Companies

• BNN TV (co-production)
• IDTV Film
• Rinkel Film & TV Productions BV
• Rinkel Film

Distributors

• RCV Film Distribution (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• High Point Film and Television (2003) (worldwide) (all media)
• BNN TV (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• TLA Releasing (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Wysiwyg Films (2007) (worldwide) (video)

Special Effects

• Rob's Prop Shop
• Stuntteam Hammy de Beukelaer
• Wiessenhaan Special Effects

Other Companies

• Biphi Catering  catering
• EFF Amsterdam  grip and lighting equipment
• Holland Equipment  camera equipment provided by
• Sensesound  sound post-production
• Sounddept.nl  sound equipment provided by
• Sparks Lighting B.V.  lighting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Netherlands:83 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | Turkish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Germany:18 | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

BNN TV

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first shot of the black Ford Sierra that they use in the final robbery, the license plate on the car (XB-two digits-two letters) is the same one as on the Opel Senator that was used earlier. In the shot that follows (when they drive up to the elderly couple's house), the car has a different plate, with the combination XH-two letters-two digits. A plate with this combination was not issued until 1998/99.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Baantjer: De Cock en de moord op herhaling - Deel 1 (#12.3)" (2006)

Van God Los makes a huge impression

I've seen quite a lot of movies, also quite some Dutch ones. Most of them suck quite heavily or are far too commercial, therefore i didn't expect much from Van God Los. But i was wrong.

The movie is very catchy, as it is being told from the perspective of Stan, a young Gymnasium student, who dislikes school and is mostly found being out on the streets. His parents don't care for him much, so he is quite left alone. Then he meets Maikel and they become very close friends. They start with some small illegal businesses, but end up being hired killers.

The story being told from a main character perspective, with commenting on Stan's thoughts, is quite unusual for Dutch movies and almost gives it a Hollywood feeling, with links to movies like the Godfather series. This makes the movie very impressive and really gets you into the main character and his feelings.

When the movie ended, i almost felt the urge of applauding for it, but since the entire cinema was silent, so was i. It was clear to see that this movie made a great impression on all viewers, it was a long time ago i heard so little noise when all people left their seats. This movie is in my opinion already a (Dutch) classic! A must see!