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IMDbPro

De smaak van water

  • 1982
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
169
YOUR RATING
De smaak van water (1982)
Drama

Hes, an uptight and disaffected social worker reaching retirement, discovers a young woman, Anna, in the closet of an acquaintance who has committed suicide. Realizing that she has been kept... Read allHes, an uptight and disaffected social worker reaching retirement, discovers a young woman, Anna, in the closet of an acquaintance who has committed suicide. Realizing that she has been kept in the apartment all her life, he moves in and helps her comes to terms with the complexi... Read allHes, an uptight and disaffected social worker reaching retirement, discovers a young woman, Anna, in the closet of an acquaintance who has committed suicide. Realizing that she has been kept in the apartment all her life, he moves in and helps her comes to terms with the complexities of the real world.

  • Director
    • Orlow Seunke
  • Writers
    • György Konrád
    • Dirk Ayelt Kooiman
    • Maarten Koopman
  • Stars
    • Gerard Thoolen
    • Dorijn Curvers
    • Joop Admiraal
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    169
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Orlow Seunke
    • Writers
      • György Konrád
      • Dirk Ayelt Kooiman
      • Maarten Koopman
    • Stars
      • Gerard Thoolen
      • Dorijn Curvers
      • Joop Admiraal
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 2 nominations

    Photos

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    Top cast

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    Gerard Thoolen
    Gerard Thoolen
    • Hes
    Dorijn Curvers
    • Anna
    Joop Admiraal
    • Schram
    Hans van Tongeren
    • stagiaire
    Olga Zuiderhoek
    Olga Zuiderhoek
    • Hes' wife
    Moniek Toebosch
    • prostitute
    Standa Bares
    • Neighbour
    René Groothof
    • Man in Bar
    Ab Abspoel
    • Doorman
    Jean-Pierre Plooij
    • New Colleague
    Bram van der Vlugt
    Bram van der Vlugt
    • Hospital Director
    Peer Mascini
    • Accompanist
    Roelant Radier
    • Doctor
    Elsje Scherjon
    Elsje Scherjon
    • Nurse
    Omar el Jout
    • Italian Man
    Hans Veerman
    Hans Veerman
    • Mr. Mul
    Frans Faassen
    • Client
    Jaap Hoogstra
    • Deaf man
    • Director
      • Orlow Seunke
    • Writers
      • György Konrád
      • Dirk Ayelt Kooiman
      • Maarten Koopman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      When the movie came out, there was some controversy over the fact that the story was obviously inspired by a György Konrád, yet Konrád had received no credit, because Seunke claimed to have forgotten to put him on the credits. Later György Konrád expressed his approval of the film.

    User reviews1

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    A profoundly moving film of pain and renewal.
    I saw this incredible film many years ago, but its impact has stayed with me. A disaffected social worker, preparing to retire, in a state of despair investigates an apartment, as a last assignment, where a family has commited suicide. While he and his replacement look at the total chaos and filth of the place, he notices a closet door open ever so slightly. In the closet he discovers a young woman...comes to realize she was kept there all her life by her family. He decides to move in, clean up the place and slowly win the young woman's trust, until she's willing to come out. The interaction between them is profoundly moving. She's unable to speak and is severely retarded, but at the movie's end she's able to accept her fate, goes with the authorities to an institution. Through his act of devotion and even a kind of love, the man finds himself renewed. The performances, especially by the two main characters, is astonishingly real and unsentimentally compelling. It should be shown at every film festival, the world over, in my opinion.
    helpful•10
    1
    • Peegee-3
    • Aug 10, 2001

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 23, 1982 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • Netherlands
    • Language
      • Dutch
    • Also known as
      • The Hes Case
    • Production company
      • Maya Filmproduktie
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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