The Chosen One (2006)

Directed by: Theu Boermans | 100 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Tijn Docter, Katja Herbers, Kees Prins, Pierre Bokma, Monic Hendrickx

‘The Chosen One’ revolves around religious fanaticism, blood ties, isolation and impossible loves. That genre mix is ​​wrapped in a tight thriller jacket. The result is an adult drama film that is not only very exciting, but also very topical.

‘De Uitverkorene’ revolves around the Van der Laan brothers who run a flourishing software company. Both Johan (Prins) and Peter (Bokma) Van der Laan are strictly Reformed and live exactly according to the Bible laws. When the company wants to go public, Peter decides to enlist the help of recently graduated financial director Steven (Docter). However, the 26-year-old boy is not in the Lord. Peter and Steven decide to hide that from Johan. When Steven starts to have feelings for Johan’s daughter Martha (Herbers), problems arise. The company also turns out not to be as solid as thought.

‘The Chosen One’ is a well-made drama film. The acting is very strong and the smooth direction ensures that the film does not collapse for a moment. The fact that the script is also well filled with interesting side plots is a nice bonus. With his directing, Theu Boermans has succeeded in evoking an oppressive atmosphere. The strict rules of life that the deeply religious brothers follow are hopelessly outdated for the average Westerner.

Stories about the pastor who visits a couple to ask where the next child will be, you probably only know from your grandmother’s anecdotes. In ‘De Uitverkorene’ such visits are the order of the day. The urban Steven who comes to work at the Van der Laans as a very young employee ends up in a completely different world. Because the boy is not religious by birth either, he does not feel at ease with the Reformed world in which he has ended up. Steven guides you through the story and soon you share his surprise and sense of displacement. Because everyone is under the illusion that Steven is one of them, the boy decides to pretend to be a believer. He lives with a lie.

Steven’s sense of loneliness and isolation is convincingly portrayed by Tijn Docter. The actor plays modest and natural. The great thing about Docter’s role is that he doesn’t get unnecessary words in his mouth. Steven is not a real talker and that results in awkward silences and scenes where there is no speaking. So realism at its best. The emotions of his character are mainly interpreted physically by Docter. Not only Docter is doing well. Kees ‘Jiskefet’ Prins is also very strong as a fundamentalist family man. But Bokma and Herbers are also not to be underestimated as tormented brother and sensitive daughter respectively. The mutual tension and the pent-up emotions put the relationships between all the characters on edge. ‘The Chosen One’ grabs you by the throat from start to finish.

‘The Chosen One’ is a complete movie. Boermans and his cast treat you to a penetrating thriller with well-developed characters. Every character is empathetic to a certain extent. The dividing line between good and bad is paper thin. You look at real people with livable problems. The fundamentalist twist gives the film a sharp edge. Anyone who likes strong acting, suspense and intelligent plot twists (and who doesn’t?) should not miss this special film. A stylish homegrown masterpiece.