This could be one of the best 'telefilms': cheap Dutch films made for TV. 'Ochtendzwemmers' is a dramatic but also comical crime movie about a group of young 'morning swimmers' who are, in the end, accused of being a criminal organization.
The movie starts with Loes, one of the morning swimmers, being interrogated by a police inspector. During that interrogation she tells him (and us) everything she had been through. We learn about another girl who stops swimming in the morning because she was just married (and her husband was 'at his best' in the morning, as she explains), a Surinammer, Ampie Sylvester, who is confronted with racism every day and her relationship with a young baker. Loes' connection to these people finally leads to illegal practices.
'Ochtendzwemmers' is an airy film. Probably that is why the criminal aspect is not so interesting. However, the lack of tension is amply compensated by the disarming love story between Loes and Bing and especially the way this film deals with racism. The owner of the shop Loes works for tries to keep Ampie Sylvester away, saying: 'You are all the same!' Afterwards we notice that the Surinammer is really a friendly guy, what makes that well-known statement very painful. The accusation against such prejudices is, in my opinion, the best part of this enjoyable film.
My vote: 7/10
The movie starts with Loes, one of the morning swimmers, being interrogated by a police inspector. During that interrogation she tells him (and us) everything she had been through. We learn about another girl who stops swimming in the morning because she was just married (and her husband was 'at his best' in the morning, as she explains), a Surinammer, Ampie Sylvester, who is confronted with racism every day and her relationship with a young baker. Loes' connection to these people finally leads to illegal practices.
'Ochtendzwemmers' is an airy film. Probably that is why the criminal aspect is not so interesting. However, the lack of tension is amply compensated by the disarming love story between Loes and Bing and especially the way this film deals with racism. The owner of the shop Loes works for tries to keep Ampie Sylvester away, saying: 'You are all the same!' Afterwards we notice that the Surinammer is really a friendly guy, what makes that well-known statement very painful. The accusation against such prejudices is, in my opinion, the best part of this enjoyable film.
My vote: 7/10
