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Character

Original title: Karakter
  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Character (1997)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
Jacob Katadreuffe lives mute with his mother, has no contact with his father who only works against him and wants to become a lawyer, at all costs.Jacob Katadreuffe lives mute with his mother, has no contact with his father who only works against him and wants to become a lawyer, at all costs.Jacob Katadreuffe lives mute with his mother, has no contact with his father who only works against him and wants to become a lawyer, at all costs.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mike van Diem
  • Writers
    • Ferdinand Bordewijk(short story "Dreverhaven en Katadreuffe" and novel "Karakter")
    • Laurens Geels(screenplay)
    • Mike van Diem(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Pavlik Jansen op de Haar
    • Jan Decleir
    • Fedja van Huêt
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike van Diem
  • Writers
    • Ferdinand Bordewijk(short story "Dreverhaven en Katadreuffe" and novel "Karakter")
    • Laurens Geels(screenplay)
    • Mike van Diem(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Pavlik Jansen op de Haar
    • Jan Decleir
    • Fedja van Huêt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 73User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 18 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    Character
    Trailer 2:03
    Character

    Photos8

    Character (1997)
    Character (1997)
    Character (1997)
    Character (1997)
    Character (1997)
    Character (1997)
    Character (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Pavlik Jansen op de Haar
    • Jacob 12 jaaras Jacob 12 jaar
    Jan Decleir
    Jan Decleir
    • Dreverhavenas Dreverhaven
    Fedja van Huêt
    Fedja van Huêt
    • Katadreuffeas Katadreuffe
    Betty Schuurman
    • Jobaas Joba
    Tamar van den Dop
    • Lorna Te Georgeas Lorna Te George
    Victor Löw
    Victor Löw
    • De Gankelaaras De Gankelaar
    Hans Kesting
    • Jan Maanas Jan Maan
    Lou Landré
    Lou Landré
    • Rentensteinas Rentenstein
    Bernard Droog
    • Stroomkoningas Stroomkoning
    Frans Vorstman
    • Inspecteur de Breeas Inspecteur de Bree
    Fred Goessens
    • Schuwagtas Schuwagt
    Jasper Gottlieb
    • Jacob 6 jaaras Jacob 6 jaar
    Marius Gottlieb
    • Jacob 6 jaaras Jacob 6 jaar
    Marisa Van Eyle
    • Jiffrouw Sibculoas Jiffrouw Sibculo
    Wim Van Der Grijn
    • 2e Inspecteuras 2e Inspecteur
    Jos Verbist
    • Brigadieras Brigadier
    Jaap Spijkers
    • Overbuurmanas Overbuurman
    Mark Rietman
    • Van Rijnas Van Rijn
    • Director
      • Mike van Diem
    • Writers
      • Ferdinand Bordewijk(short story "Dreverhaven en Katadreuffe" and novel "Karakter")
      • Laurens Geels(screenplay)
      • Mike van Diem(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the story takes place in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, many scenes were filmed in other cities across The Netherlands and Europe. This was because Rotterdam has very few buildings from this era left following heavy bombing during the Second World War. Filming locations included: Hamburg (Germany), Wroclaw (Poland), Antwerp and Ghent (Belgium) and The Hague (The Netherlands).
    • Goofs
      In one of the street scenes, you can see an extra in modern outfit and with no headwear on.
    • Quotes

      Joba: Why don't you leave our boy in peace?

      Dreverhaven: I'll strangle him for nine-tenths, and the last tenth will make him strong.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Lost in Space/The Spanish Prisoner/Mercury Rising/Kurt & Courtney/Character (1998)

    User reviews73

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A very good film!
    Character is one of the best period films I have ever seen, and the enormous quantity of very interesting aspects in it make it worth watching.

    I saw this film with the natural curiosity that a best foreign film Academy Award arouses in many people, and I was really delighted and surprised (Altough, I must admit I had hoped Spain's Secrets of the Heart would win). The story is quite beautiful, and Mike van Diem created a very solid screen play based on well known Ferdinand Bordewijk's novel.

    The film has some extraordinary moments; I must say that the one that impressed me most was the final scene of the film, a scene of great visual impact and also of an incredibly big narrative content; it is the scene that reveals the mystery behind the cruel A.B. Dreverhaven's behaviour.

    The performances given out in this film are simply spectacular especially Jan Decleir's as Dreverhaven. I also think Betty Schuurman as Jacob's mother and Victor Löw as De Gankelaar are terrific. One more thing, the art design is beautiful; the image the film gives us of the 1930's Amsterdam is very powerful and very beautiful.

    Not only is it a great film then, but it is a story that carries a lot of feelings, and will take you on quiet an emotional ride. I can only say this: enjoy it!
    helpful•21
    7
    • BermudezLievano
    • Nov 11, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 27, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Netherlands
      • Belgium
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures Classics
    • Languages
      • Dutch
      • English
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Характер
    • Filming locations
      • Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland
    • Production companies
      • First Floor Features
      • Almerica Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $623,983
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $37,268
      • Mar 29, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $623,983
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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