Simon (2004)

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Through an awkward accident, Camiel (Marcel Hensema) meets Simon (Cees Geel). Camiel is an intelligent, shy, insecure, gay student studying to become a dentist. Simon is close to his opposite: a true Amsterdam mythical hero - down-to-earth, liberal, dry humoured seducer ("Couldn't you just instantly turn into a naked chick?") who owns two cafés and lives in the Dutch paradox - he's in the semi-legal business of running a hash home delivery service. Both are true products of Dutch society, as it is dreamed to be, with their multilingual, easy, matter-of-fact approach to life. But the film is mostly about Simon. Well, about Camiel looking Simon, fascinated.So what is it about Simon that so fascinates Camiel? To a certain extent, Camiel is an outsider, he is just someone who walks the streets. He is not extraordinary in any sense. Neither his love life, nor his profession can help him up, nor does he play an instrument or have any hidden talent. When he meets Simon, it seems as if Simon has his whole life organised around himself, to be able to live his life fully. He is surrounded by his oddball friends and has a loving family (in Thailand!). And that with a forgiving smile which allows him to boyishly do as he pleases.The second half of the movie is darker than the first, when the weight on the looming tragedy starts to be felt (Simon's approaching death). The second half of the film is more emotional, building on the characters and relationships of the first half. Notice the remarkable difference in the treatment of the subject with Les Invasions Barbares, of death, friendship, love, sex and society. Perhaps the last is the most remarkable, because somewhere Simon is the society. There is no clash with an outer world which is different to him - because the difference between the individuals is what makes up the society in which he lives. Similarly there is no generational gap either, Simon's children will make something out of their lives as he did with his, nothing fundamental has changed. It is Western society at its (brief?) peak. If there is any weakness in the film, then it would have to be Simon's interest in Camiel, the reasons of which could have been more explicit (perhaps his stability, or his intelligence?). None the less, the audience takes on the role of Camiel, and is taken along into Simon's world. A world which is a rare glimpse into the liberal post-modern society which is (was?) The Netherlands. Camiel will not be the only one leaving impressed.

If added to the top 250 at this moment the film would be side by side with films like North by Northwest and The silence of the Lambs. Well, Mr. Terstall, you made a good film, but those films are a different class. It seems those stubborn Dutch tried to promote their 'homeproduct'. Simon is a good film though. The humor is typical for Amsterdam. A kind of humor that is influenced much by the big Jewish community Amsterdam used to have. The film touches many aspects of Ducth society. But it is in no way a reflection of that society. Most Dutch are 'regularly' married, don't work in drugs business and don't have children with a foreign wife. Holland is a fairly conservative country. I would consider the film a good impression of the way a small elite in Amsterdam lives.

Brings both a smile to your face as tears to your eyes. The raw humor portrait by "Simon" is balanced with the sincere emotions portrayed by the people around him.Where a few other Dutch movies tell the tale of a loved one being destroyed slowly by a disease of some kind ("Turks Fruit" and "Ik ook van jou") in a dramatic way, the movie "Simon" also touches you by the black humor that goes along with the tough struggle of not only the main character but also the people around him.Delicate themes like suffering from terminal cancer, euthanasia and (in a less impacting way in this film: gay marriage) go hand in hand with crude jokes about sex, flat-chested women and gay and racial jokes. Though the delicate line between authentic sentiment and cheap emotional effect is never crossed in neither the dramatic not the emotional side of the barrier.

This film based of relationships between friends, is as life can be. Being close to one another, something happens and there is a big gap growing. Due to coincidence the friend meet each other again. They become even more close, but no one is afraid of life anymore. They grew up in different ways. In between homosexuality, morals and in the end death(with some assistance)are very well woven into the plot, and explicit as well. Not guiding in opinion, but just showing the simple dilemma's of life. The film is tender, sometimes fast, well shot, and the main character is worth to be an Hollywood star.So Hollywood give this film a good chance in the closet environment of the States.