The South (2004)

Directed by: Martin Koolhoven | 87 minutes | drama | Actors: Monic Hendrickx, Frank Lammers, Oksana Akinshina, Olga Louzgina, Ina Geerts, Nazmiye Oral

‘The South’ is a relatively simple story in itself, but it has been given convincing form and content. Especially the penetrating play of Monic Hendrickx (Martje) is very strong. The role of Frank Lammers (Loe as the new driver) is a lot smaller in size, but it is precisely the moments when he expresses his shock reaction when he unexpectedly discovers during a lovemaking that Martje has undergone a mastectomy and is wearing a prosthesis. This also applies to all characters in this story. These are well developed and their doubts, fears and insecurities are well expressed. The guest roles of Oksana Akinshana and Olga Louzgina also make a strong contribution to the course of events.

The developments start when Martje meets Loe at a burger joint, she flees when he has gone to get her a cup of coffee. Later, Loe unexpectedly applies for a job at her laundry because he is tired of his long truck trips abroad. There is almost immediately a strong attraction between them and during a lovemaking he is shocked when it turns out that she has undergone a mastectomy. She did not dare to tell him this and he reproaches her that she should have said so beforehand. He doesn’t mind, but would have liked to be prepared for it. He storms out of the office after an argument and Martje is disappointed, furious and especially sad because it is yet another man who runs away because of her mastectomy. She sees her fears confirmed once again.

Her co-workers see her grief, draw the wrong conclusions based on lies about what happened and they decide to punish Loe and lock it up in a laundry room where there is a high temperature. Loe hadn’t wanted to rape her as they think, but had wanted to comfort her in the end. Martje was already too angry and sad to understand this and she wants to make him pay. At the end of the working day she wants to release him after this punishment, but they again discuss the fact that Loe thinks she should have said something about the mastectomy beforehand. For her, however, it is yet another disappointment in men. She then slams the door shut again and locks it. She leaves the engine on so that no one can hear Loe. The next day she tells her co-workers that Loe has left and is not coming back.

So far the story is somewhat predictable and you can already see the further dramatic developments coming, but it is precisely because of the strong playing of Monic Hendrickx in particular that the story remains completely intact. You will inevitably see her completely turn into a person who will live completely in a dream world of her own. After a few days Loe also appears to have a woman who anxiously inquires with Martje whether she as an employer knows where Loe is. She is then again disappointed in Loe, after all he also wanted to sleep with her!

Martje completely loses sight of the reality of the situation and continues in her make-believe world in which she also wants to take care of a newborn baby of an illegal employee. She goes to a prosthetic store where she wants to buy a more natural-looking breast in order to please Loe. Until that order is received and she is completely ready for Loe, it must then remain in the closed heating chamber for a while.

This development in which she eventually loses sight of reality completely has been convincingly worked out. With strong acting and good camera work, a bizarre situation is portrayed here, which is nevertheless completely believable. It is somewhat to be expected that the developments eventually lead to a dramatic denouement, but it is precisely the game at the end that makes this again a fascinating denouement. Highly recommended.