Code Blue (2011)

Marian, a middle aged nurse, devotes herself to her patients like a saint. Sometimes she even takes on the role of a redeemer, by helping the gravely ill to the soothing order of ultimate ... See full summary »

Director:

Urszula Antoniak

Writer:

Urszula Antoniak (screenplay)

Stars:

Bien de Moor, Lars Eidinger, Annemarie Prins

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Bien de Moor	...	Marian
Lars Eidinger	...	Konrad
Annemarie Prins	...	Willie
Sophie van Winden	...	Anne
Christine Bijvanck	...	Night nurse
Hans Kesting	...	Doctor
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sam de Man	...	Party Guest
Renée Fokker
Sabine Soetanto
Anna Deborah van der Rhee	...	Party guest
Mitchell van Dijk	...	Party Guest
Coen van Hulst	...	Party guest

Storyline

Marian, a middle aged nurse, devotes herself to her patients like a saint. Sometimes she even takes on the role of a redeemer, by helping the gravely ill to the soothing order of ultimate silence. When she gets linked to a neighbor in an act of common voyeurism, she becomes fascinated by him. Faced with the fragility of these newfound emotions, Marian surrenders to her human needs...

---

Plot Keywords:

voyeurism | condom | male masturbation | male frontal nudity | two word title | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

Denmark Netherlands

Language:

Dutch English

Release Date:

29 September 2011 (Netherlands)

Filming Locations:

Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Family Affair Films, IDTV Film, Zentropa Entertainments 5

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

"Expressionistic, metaphoric and excruciating..."

Polish screenwriter and director Urszula Antoniak's second feature film which she also wrote, is a Dutch-Danish co-production based on a short story called "Woods" by Janeck Luter Lenartowicz and was produced by Arnold Heslenfeld, Frans van Gestel and Floor Onrust. It tells the story of a middle-aged nurse named Marian who lives in an urban apartment-block. Marian is wholeheartedly devoted to her dying patients, works out, spends some time with her friends, but is longing for intimacy. She has an infatuation with her neighbor whom she begins to follow. Though Marian's attraction towards this man that she knows nothing about is increasing she doesn't contact him, but her life changes when they both witness a crime.

With it's gritty urban milieu depictions and significantly foreboding atmosphere, this existentialistic, voyeuristic and symbolic psychological drama draws an unsentimental, intimate and heartbreaking portrayal of a humane, bilateral and deeply afflicted woman who has given some much of her love to her patients that she is almost dying for a little bit of affection for herself. Notable for it's brilliant low-keyed visuals and the subtle and precise directing by Urszula Antoniak, this tense, cold and brave artistic expression depicts a clinical and condensed study of character about solitude, guilt, death and love, which goes straight into the conflicted heart and soul of the enigmatic protagonist.

This austere, unsettling, graphic, somewhat abstract and character-driven mystery about a lonely woman's internal scream for solace is reinforced by the astounding and emphatic acting performance, somewhat reminiscent of Isabelle Huppert's acting performance in Michael Haneke's "The Piano Teacher" (2001), by Belgian actress Bien de Moor in a diverse role and the understated supporting acting performance by German actor Lars Eidinger. An expressionistic, metaphoric and excruciating character portrayal about loneliness which gained the Golden Calf for Best Cinematography Jasper Wolf and Best Sound Design Jan Schermer at the Netherlands Film Festival in 2011.