The Whore (2020)

Directed by: Ivo van Aart | 90 minutes | comedy, horror, crime | Actors: Katja Herbers, Claire Porro, Bram van der Kelen, Rein Hofman, Harry van Rijthoven

“Why can’t we just be nice to each other?” columnist Femke Boot sighs in the fictional, but so true to life, Telefilm ‘De kuthoer’ during a performance in DWDD. She calls this because the most terrible insults on social media, especially Twitter, are often addressed to her, if in her column in de Volkskrant she once again has a different opinion than a group of (remaining anonymous) readers.

Having respect for another’s opinion is indeed something that internet trolls lack. And exactly those internet trolls get what they deserve in ‘The pussy whore’. Femke is so disappointed by the oversimplified comments, which she knows she shouldn’t read, but what she does anyway, that she takes matters into her own hands. With all its consequences.

‘The pussy whore’ is a black comedy that secretly deals with many more things than nasty commentators and their deserved or undeserved wages. As a successful columnist, Femke already has a book deal, but she has no idea what her novel should be about. The hilariously bold editor talks the way many executives talk these days; they only hear themselves and then consider a dialogue successful. The role of Femke’s daughter Anna (Claire Pollo) is also quite important. Anna is an intelligent teenager, who dares to speak up for her opinion and does not give up. Her conversations with the head of the school are very funny. And kudos for her choice of clothing, especially the t-shirts! The interpretation of Femke’s lover and fellow writer, Steven Dood, is also a good one, because it is very different from what you initially think.

Katja Herbers is perfectly cast for this role. She has just the right look and is absolutely believable, both as a mother, writer and vengeful type.

In terms of logic, there may still be something wrong with the story of this film. That murders are committed without too much preparation and that the perpetrator gets away with it, or seems to get away with it, for example. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that the circle is nicely rounded at the end, the finale of the film is really phenomenal. If only one internet troll sees this movie and improves his or her life, that’s already a win. But of course we actually hope that the title of the film will belong to the group of “words you last heard in 2020” in a while.