Simon (2004)

Enterprising liberal Jew Simon Cohen is the lawless lord of an Amsterdam neighborhood, running a 'coffee' shop' (legal soft drugs sale). As soon as they bump into each-other, Simon ... See full summary »

Director:

Eddy Terstall

Writer:

Eddy Terstall (screenplay)

Stars:

Cees Geel, Marcel Hensema, Rifka Lodeizen

7 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cees Geel	...	Simon Cohen
Marcel Hensema	...	Camiel Vrolijk
Rifka Lodeizen	...	Sharon
Nadja Hüpscher	...	Joy
Eva Duijvestein	...	Ellen
Daan Ekkel	...	Marco
Dirk Zeelenberg	...	Bram
Stijn Koomen	...	Nelson
Johnny de Mol	...	Floris (as Johnny de Mol jr.)
Maria Paz	...	Gwen (as Maria Kooistra)
Femke Lakerveld	...	Adrienne
Natasja Loturco	...	Astrid, Camiel's Assistant
Araba Walton	...	Gisela
Medi Broekman	...	Priscilla
Dennis Rudge	...	Sjimmie

Storyline

Enterprising liberal Jew Simon Cohen is the lawless lord of an Amsterdam neighborhood, running a 'coffee' shop' (legal soft drugs sale). As soon as they bump into each-other, Simon fascinates gay, up to then conventionalist Jewish dentistry student Camiel Vrolijk and draws him into his libertine world, even all the way to Thailand for B-movie making. Hvaing seduced Simon's whorish girl, embarrassed Simon leaves quietly. Ten years later, the dentist, now settled with a gay partner, lawyer Bram, meets the new cancer-terminal but affluent Simon again.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | coffee shop | dentist | thailand | soft drugs | 

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Taglines:

Hij verandert je leven (He will change your life)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [nl]

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch English German Thai

Release Date:

30 September 2004 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

I zoi san asteio

Filming Locations:

Sawasdee Beach, Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand

Box Office

Budget:

€1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,453 (USA) (7 April 2006)

Gross:

$2,453 (USA) (7 April 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fortissimo Films, Spaghetti Film, Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are several images of Buddha in Simon's apartment when Camiel comes to visit after Simon has told him he has cancer. One of Buddha's precepts is that all life is suffering. Simon makes other references to suffering when he and Camiel go to the hospital to start his chemotherapy treatments and they observe people sick and dying from cancer, and there are several more references to Buddha in the dialogue through the end of the movie.

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Connections

References Mister Ed (1958)

User Reviews

Tables Turning

SIMON is a little jewel of a film. In a manner more typically Dutch than most it is an exploration of the interaction of two men, opposites in almost every way except in their potential power of friendship.

Camiel is a gay, tender, polite, dental student while Simon is straight, seemingly critical of gay aspects (though always with tongue in cheek), noisy, outspoken, crafty, boisterous and a bit crude café owner. The two collide in an accident, an act that bonds them inextricably, and the film shows the two polar opposites reconnecting fourteen years later when Simon is dying of cancer and calls upon all his resources and involves Camiel in the difficult process of life's ending. Simon's strength of character (despite his previous outwardly bombastic and crude manner) gives Camiel much to learn - and gives the audience some touching and tender thoughts on which to dwell. The film is a fun, at times naughty, smart, and ultimately life-affirming tale about the importance of friendship and family...and a strong sense of humor...that are the stuff that allow us to survive even the most difficult of moments in life.

The entire cast is excellent but the performances by Cees Geel as Simon and Marcel Hensema as Camiel Vrolijk are worthy of awards. This is an extravagantly fun film, completely open and honest about its sexuality, that results in a memorable emotional experience for the viewer. In Dutch with English subtitles. Grady Harp