The Last Days of Emma Blank (2009)
"De laatste dagen van Emma Blank" (original title)

A woman living in a large country home drives her servants to mutiny with her outrageous demands as she waits for death to come for her.

Director:

Alex van Warmerdam

Writer:

Alex van Warmerdam

Stars:

Marlies Heuer, Gene Bervoets, Annet Malherbe

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marlies Heuer	...	Emma Blank
Gene Bervoets	...	Haneveld
Annet Malherbe	...	Bella
Eva van de Wijdeven	...	Gonnie
Gijs Naber	...	Meier
Alex van Warmerdam	...	Theo
Chico Kenzari	...	Martin (as Marwan Kenzari)

Storyline

Mr. Haneveld runs the household like a devoted butler in Emma Blank's Dutch seaside villa. It's a crazy mix of disgruntled staff, unstable lovers and incestuous offspring, constantly harassed by Emma's absurdly inconsistent orders. Her brother Theo even literally plays the family dog. Only Gonnie, Hanevlet and Emma's daughter, finds an external lover, Martin, who later shares in their pointless misery. When Emma discloses the inheritance everyone waited for without pay is lost in stock crises, only the house is left, a grim finale ensues.

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Plot Keywords:

death | sister sister relationship | boyfriend girlfriend relationship | husband wife relationship | bath | 

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Taglines:

Emma Blank waits for her death. So do her servants.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [nl]

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Release Date:

7 May 2009 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

The Last Days of Emma Blank

Filming Locations:

Vogelenzang, Bloemendaal, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Box Office

Budget:

€2,750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fortissimo Films, Graniet Film BV, La Parti Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The family house was built especially for this film. The decision of building the house was made after an extensive search for a house that more or less matched the idea of Alex van Warmerdam, who conceived and wrote down the layout of the house in great detail in his script.

User Reviews

Funny at times, but sadly not throughout

It's a shame the movie does not keep one pace or sticks with its concept and instead opts to change gears every now and then. Unfortunately when it does so, it almost falls flat on its back. Funny, quirky and anything but political correct and still somehow predictable after awhile. Not completely of course, but enough to make a weird balance (not in a good way that is).

The acting is good and the idea is very nice. But again it changes too often in tone (not visually, just mood-wise) to stick with you. Or at least me that is. Of course it depends on your level of tolerance and how much you like those sort of movies anyway.