A peculiar film which quite deserves its name, GRIMM is a post-modern non-fairy tale of (adult) siblings abandoned in the woods by their parents. They have a series of (a)sexual adventures as they are leaving the Netherlands (what a fitting name) for Spain.
Halina Reijn, who plays the sister Maria, is the spitting image of (a young) Mary Woronov. Her relationship with her brother Jacob (Jacob Derwig) is rife with incestuous overtones.
While it helps to have read the original Grimm tales (not the modern Disneyfied versions), knowledge of the history of Spain & the Netherlands is also quite useful. The 80 Years War was one of the bloodiest of the Cult wars between Protestantism & Catholicism (at least until the 30 Years war next door started in Germany immediately afterwords). The populations of entire cities were slaughtered by Spanish armies under the Dukes of Alba and of Parma. Dutch retaliations were also brutal.
Now the Dutch invade Spain every winter on vacation. The contrasts between the cultures are still apparent. Macho vs. modern. Fascist (loved the Guardia Civil emblem of the Fasces, Sword & Crown) vs. Anarchist. Anti-Sexual hot Spain vs. (A)Sexual cold Holland.
As soon as the couple drive through the "magic" tunnel & arrive in Spain's "netherlands" I was reminded of Alex Cox's STRAIGHT TO HELL, another modern "fairy tale". I'm not certain (as I haven't seen S.T.H. in at least 15 years), but I believe the western movie set town they finally arrive at for the final acts of GRIMM is the same place.
"Let's go home." and bring the donkey along.
Include on DVD is a short silent film called "Painting" (verb not noun). I quite enjoyed it.
Halina Reijn, who plays the sister Maria, is the spitting image of (a young) Mary Woronov. Her relationship with her brother Jacob (Jacob Derwig) is rife with incestuous overtones.
While it helps to have read the original Grimm tales (not the modern Disneyfied versions), knowledge of the history of Spain & the Netherlands is also quite useful. The 80 Years War was one of the bloodiest of the Cult wars between Protestantism & Catholicism (at least until the 30 Years war next door started in Germany immediately afterwords). The populations of entire cities were slaughtered by Spanish armies under the Dukes of Alba and of Parma. Dutch retaliations were also brutal.
Now the Dutch invade Spain every winter on vacation. The contrasts between the cultures are still apparent. Macho vs. modern. Fascist (loved the Guardia Civil emblem of the Fasces, Sword & Crown) vs. Anarchist. Anti-Sexual hot Spain vs. (A)Sexual cold Holland.
As soon as the couple drive through the "magic" tunnel & arrive in Spain's "netherlands" I was reminded of Alex Cox's STRAIGHT TO HELL, another modern "fairy tale". I'm not certain (as I haven't seen S.T.H. in at least 15 years), but I believe the western movie set town they finally arrive at for the final acts of GRIMM is the same place.
"Let's go home." and bring the donkey along.
Include on DVD is a short silent film called "Painting" (verb not noun). I quite enjoyed it.