Simon (2004)

Director:

Eddy Terstall

Writer:

Eddy Terstall (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 September 2004 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Hij verandert je leven (He will change your life)

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Amsterdam Netherlands | Cell Phone | Nudity | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

7 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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 Kooistra	...	Gwen
Femke Lakerveld	...	Adrienne
Natasja Loturco	...	Astrid, Camiel's Assistant
Araba Walton	...	Gisela
Medi Broekman	...	Priscilla
Dennis Rudge	...	Sjimmie

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | English | German | Thai

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Spaghetti Film

Trivia:

This was the Netherlands' official choice for the 2004 Oscar Awards, Foreign Language film category.

Movie Connections:

References Back to the Future (1985)

hilarious and sadness walk the path of life hand in hand

Extraordinary film with great humor and witty conversations. I was swept of my feet before the first 5 minutes were over. Yes, the movie is very funny - I had tears in my eyes from laughing - but sometimes the tears that had started from laughter, remained to be there because of the sadness of Simon's illness...

It's pace is quite fast, it's very difficult to get bored in viewing it. The play of lead actor Cees Geel is excellent, as viewer you fall in love with this guy from the start and won't be disappointed about him as the movie proceeds. He plays a very humorous and positive guy, who's a bit macho, but also very sweet. People around him are regularly been given a big smile on their faces.

But also Marcel Hensema is playing very convincingly as the gay Camiel who's studying to become a dentist. He's a bit more introvert than Simon, but he and Simon fit well together in both fun and conversations on life's issues and become very close friends.

I guess the movie is filled with typically Dutch issues. The nudeness and joints are all over the screen, but also the way conversations are held on being gay (Camiel) and how to deal with Cancer (Simon) could be seen as open-minded (or controversial?) Dutch.

All and all I found this movie highly entertaining while it touched some heavy emotions at the same time.