Cool!

Colour, 35 mm
Netherlands, 2004, 89 min
Section: Another View
Oficiální stránky: www.highpointfilms.co.uk/cool

Synopsis

The death of Theo van Gogh at the hand of an Islamic fundamentalist sparked a number of hitherto taboo questions in the Netherlands. What do the locals know of the culture and customs of the Moroccans, Algerians and Turks who have settled in their country? The heroes of the film Cool! are taken largely from the second generation of immigrants – they were born in Holland yet, whether under the influence of their families or from lack of opportunity, they still find themselves on the fringes of society and its moral codex. After a botched attempt to rob a bank, five friends find themselves in the Glen Mills School, a special re-education centre for adolescents. They are at the crossroads of life. Are they to listen to the gang calling them back to the crime world, or should they try something else, something which the centre is offering them? But how can they break the strong bonds of loyalty and lasting friendships? However they decide, one of them has to pay for it and redeem the others…. The film Cool! was selected for the Official Competition at the Toronto and Thessalonica IFFs (2004).

About the director

Theo van Gogh (b. 1957, Wassenaar, Netherlands-2004, Amsterdam) shot more than 13 feature films and numerous TV programs. He was a scathing and remorseless analyst and critic of Dutch society. His rich feature filmography includes Luger (1981), A Day at the Beach (Een dagje naar het strand, 1984), Charley (1986), Return to Oegstgeest (Terug naar Oegstgeest, 1987), Loos (1989), False Light (Vals licht, 1993), 1-900 (1994), Blind Date (1996), De pijnbank (1998), Baby Blue (2001), Interview (2003), Cool! (2004) and the posthumous 06/05, The Sixth of May (2004). Television work: Eva (1984), Hoe ik mijn moeder vermoordde (1996), In the Interests of the State (In het belang van de staat, 1997), Au! (1997), De nacht van Aalbers (2001), “Najib en Julia” (2002), “Medea” (2004).