Ober (2006)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Alex van Warmerdam

Writer:

Alex van Warmerdam (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 September 2006 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Fantasy Becomes Reality | Restaurant | Rowboat | Neighbor | Baby

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Alex van Warmerdam	...	Edgar
Ariane Schluter	...	Victoria
Jaap Spijkers	...	Walter
Mark Rietman	...	Herman
Thekla Reuten	...	Suzie
Kees Prins	...	Zakenman 1
Pierre Bokma	...	Zakenman 2
Porgy Franssen	...	Zakenman 3
Lyne Renee	...	Stella (as Line Van Wambeke)
Waldemar Kobus	...	Richard
Fedja van Huêt	...	Ralph
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joop Admiraal	...	Magere man
Jakop Ahlbom	...	Stanley
Martine Berghuijs	...	Vrouw
Loek Beumer	...	Ober racletten
Leny Breederveld	...	Vrouw Gerard
Bert Bunschoten	...	Gerard
Aat Ceelen	...	Gezette man
Peter Drost	...	Gerant racletten
René van 't Hof	...	Oud winkel vrouwtje
Togo Igawa	...	Makino
Jan Jaap Janssen	...	Begrafenisondernemer
Stephan Legand	...	Sieb
Sylvia Poorta	...	Ilse
Karina Smulders	...	Verrukkelijk meisje 1
Sofie van Dijk	...	Verrukkelijk meisje 2
Marc van Warmerdam	...	Ober nachtrestaurant

Also Known As:

Waiter (Canada: English title) (festival title)

Runtime:

97 min | Canada:97 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Netherlands | Belgium

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18

Company:

Graniet Film BV

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Allemaal film: Tussen kunst en kassa (#1.5)" (2007)

Prepare to meet your maker...!

Alex van Warmerdam is the David Lynch of the Dutch cinema. His movies are enigmatic and absurd, and they are filled with dark themes and sexual tension. ''Ober'' is no exception, although it did feel a bit more mainstream than ''Grimm'' or ''De Noorderlingen''.

This story evolves around a waiter getting smacked around by nearly everyone in his near vicinity. Fed up by this misfortune, he decides to pay the author of his story a visit and ask him for a few chances in the scenario of life. Wrong choice. From that point on the story becomes weirder and weirder.

I was a bit disappointed at first. The story of meeting the author of your life has the potential to become a thought provoking movie like ''Being John Malkovich'' or ''Eternal Sunshine...''. But sadly it didn't quite reach that level. It's more of a well-crafted and absurd comedy than anything else. That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy the movie. Alex van Warmerdam, playing the role of the waiter himself, displays himself as a comical genius. It's really funny to see this poor guy being used as boxing equipment by almost everyone. There is also a totally random scene in which nothing else happens than seeing an old lady wrapping up a bow and arrow. It may sound boring, but on-screen it is hilarious.

As a whole this is a highly enjoyable and funny comedy. Not as good as I hoped for, but certainly better than most of the Dutch garbage released. We need this kind of movies to put Holland on the map of the movie business.