Character (1997 film) 334156 220801410 2008-06-21T17:20:03Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Infobox Film | name = Character | image = Karakter.jpg | caption = German film poster of ''Character'' | director = [[Mike van Diem]] | producer = [[Laurens Geels]] | writer = [[Ferdinand Bordewijk]] (novel)<br/>[[Mike van Diem]] | narrator = | starring = [[Jan Decleir]]<br/>[[Jonathan Maxwell Reeves]]<br/>[[Fedja van Huêt]]<br/>[[Victor Löw]] | music = [[Paleis van Boem]] | cinematography = [[Rogier Stoffers]] | editing = [[Jessica de Koning]] | distributor = | released = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[17 April]], [[1997 in film|1997]]<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[27 March]], [[1998]]<br>{{flagicon|Canada}} [[10 April]], [[1998]]<br>{{flagicon|UK}} [[18 October]], [[1998]] | runtime = 122 minutes | country = [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]] | language = [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[English language|English]], [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]] | budget = | preceded_by = | followed_by = | website = | amg_id = 1:154977 | imdb_id = 0119448 }} '''''Character''''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: '''''Karakter''''') is a [[1997 in film|1997]] [[Netherlands|Dutch]]/[[Belgium|Belgian]] [[film]], based on the best-selling novel by [[Ferdinand Bordewijk]] and directed by [[Mike van Diem]]. The film won the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[70th Academy Awards]]. The film stars [[Fedja van Huêt]], [[Jan Decleir]], and [[Betty Schuurman]]. ==Synopsis== In the Netherlands of the 1920s, Dreverhaven (Decleir), a dreaded bailiff, is found dead, with a knife sticking out of his stomach. The obvious suspect is Jacob Willem Katadreuffe (van Huêt), an ambitious young lawyer who worked his way up from poverty, always managing to overcome Dreverhaven's personal attacks against him. Katadreuffe was seen leaving Dreverhaven's office on the afternoon of the murder. He is arrested and taken to police headquarters, where he reflects back on the story of his long relationship with Dreverhaven, who, police learn, is also Katadreuffe's father. The story began when Katadreuffe's taciturn mother, Joba (played by Schuurman), worked as a housekeeper for Dreverhaven. During that time, they had sex only once, but Joba became pregnant and left her employer to make a living for herself and her son. Time and again she rejected Dreverhaven's offer by mail to marry her and provide the child with a home. Even as a child, Katadreuffe's path crosses with Dreverhaven, often with dire consequences. When he is arrested for a boyish prank and tells the police that Dreverhaven is his father, Dreverhaven refuses to recognize him as his son. When, as a young man, he unwittingly takes a loan from Dreverhaven's bank to purchase a failed [[cigar]] store, Dreverhaven sues him to win the money back. Still, Katadreuffe manages to pay back the debt, finding a clerical position in a law firm. He does this even though most of his education is derived from reading an incomplete set of [[encyclopedia]]s that he happens to find as a boy in his mother's apartment. After paying back the debt, Katadreuffe implores Dreverhaven to give him a second loan so that he can pass the bar examination. Dreverhaven agrees, on the condition that he can call back the loan at any time. Despite his efforts to hinder his son, Katadreuffe manages to pass the examination. On the afternoon of the murder he storms into Dreverhaven's office to pay the final installment on the loan. A fight ensues, and Katadreuffe attacks Dreverhaven before leaving. All around people see him as he marches out of the office. At the end of the film, however, the police discover that Katadreuffe left Dreverhaven at 5:00 p.m., while Dreverhaven died at 11:00 p.m. It transpires that Dreverhaven actually committed suicide. At the end of the film, his will is produced, leaving all of his considerable wealth to his son. The will is signed "Vader" (Father). ==Themes== The complicated relationship between Katadreuffe and Dreverhaven lies at the center of this film. Viewers are left wondering whether Dreverhaven was really acting in his son's best interest, by being harsh with him, or taking revenge, either on an unwanted child or the boy's mother, who refused to marry him. ==Trivia== Although both words derive from the same word, ''Character'' is a false translation of the Dutch ''Karakter''. ''Karakter'' means personality. Most scenes of the movie were shot in [[Wrocław]], [[Poland]]. ==External links== *{{imdb title|id=0119448|title=Karakter}} *{{amg title|id=1:154977|title=Character}} *broken [http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/fns99n6.html review (albany.edu)] *[http://www.iofilm.co.uk/fm/c/character_1997.shtml review (iofilm.co.uk)] {{start box}} {{succession box | title=[[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] | years=1997 | before=''[[Kolya]]'' | after=''[[Life Is Beautiful]]''}} {{end}} [[Category:1997 films]] [[Category:Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners]] [[Category:Dutch films]] [[Category:Dutch-language films]] [[Category:Belgian films]] [[Category:English-language films]] [[Category:German-language films]] [[Category:French-language films]] [[Category:Drama films]] [[de:Karakter]] [[es:Carácter (película)]] [[it:Character - Bastardo eccellente]] [[nl:Karakter (film)]] [[ja:キャラクター/孤独な人の肖像]] [[tr:Karakter (film)]]