File K. (2010)

Directed by: Jan Verheyen | 110 minutes | thriller | Actors: Koen De Bouw, Werner De Smedt, Blerim Destani, Hilde De Baerdemaeker, Filip Peeters, R. Kan Albay, Jappe Claes, Marieke Dilles, Greg Timmermans, Sven De Ridder, Ryszard Turbiasz, Kushtrim Sheremeti, Johan van Assche, Katelijne Verbeke

Vincke and Verstuyft – in Flanders they are just as well known as Vledder and De Cock. The detective duo was created by author Jef Geeraerts and played the lead roles in many of his crime novels. It was of course inevitable that these successful books would be made into a film and in 2003 there was ‘De Case Alzheimer’, directed by the widely acclaimed Erik Van Looy. That film was a resounding success: more than 750,000 people went to the cinema, in Flanders alone, to see the adventures of Vincke and Verstuyft. This made it one of the best-attended Flemish films of all time. In 2009 the second film adaptation, ‘Dossier K.’ was released. Although it was initially the intention that Van Looy would also direct this film, he dropped out due to contractual obligations. However, he remained involved in the project as co-screenwriter. The direction was in the hands of Jan Verheyen, known for the thriller ‘Missing’ (2007). In his hands the emphasis has shifted to action and spectacle. Because if ‘File K.’ excels in something, it is in sketching a rock-hard underworld where bullets fly around your ears.

‘File K.’ opens with a reckoning within the Albanian underworld in Antwerp. When Nazim Tahir (Blerim Destani) learns from Albania that his father was murdered in the Belgian port by members of the rival Gaba clan, he sets out for revenge. The kanun, an ancient Albanian customary law, even obliges him to commit blood feud. He travels to Antwerp and dives into the dim world around the Falconplein, where his godfather Prenk Shehu (R. Kan Albay) is in charge. Commissioner Vincke (Koen De Bouw) is assigned to the case with his buddy Verstuyft (Werner De Smedt), but is not eager to enter the wasp nest of the Albanian crime clans, which is hermetically sealed. The Albanians, hardened by the civil war in their country, are not easy boys. It soon becomes apparent that the murder of Nazim’s father fits into a broader picture: the investigation of attorney Marcel Bracke (Jappe Claes) into the arms trade of the Gaba clan. Before they can act, however, Nazim has already started clearing the men responsible for his father’s death…

The recipe is simple: take a bold and headstrong police commissioner and put him on a complex murder case. Add to this a young sidekick who knows how to pull jokes out of his sleeve, a handsome, dedicated agent (Hilde De Baerdemaeker) for whom the Commissioner has warm feelings and a somewhat dorky but extremely diligent assistant (Greg Timmermans) who provides him with all kinds of useful information. knows how to provide. Of course, the top layer of justice is not always reliable and the idealistic commissioner regularly clashes with his superiors. It’s the standard recipe for any cop show on television. ‘Baantjer’, ‘Flikken’ – they all work according to a certain pattern. ‘File K.’ does not deviate from that. In fact, the clichés are all passed by one by one. The shadowy informers from the underworld, the silly gangster sweethearts, you name it. Of course, this partly ensures recognisability. On the other hand, it would be nice to deviate from this. Especially if you’re making a movie that looks like it was made in Hollywood.

Because one thing is certain: Verheyen has done his utmost to impress – especially in the visual field. The rock-hard action scenes are unprecedented by Flemish and Dutch standards. In particular, the scene at Hotel Miami, where the Gaba clan is after the fugitive Nazim, is abuzz with adrenaline. The tension is regularly cut and that’s what it’s all about in policiers. ‘File K.’ is also lucky that Koen De Bouw is such a pleasant protagonist, who knows how to win the viewer’s sympathy without any effort. Unfortunately, his team is less successful (De Smedt is rarely really funny and the romance with De Baerdemaeker has been worked out very clumsily). Fortunately, Destani, Albay and Claes are in good shape. What the film suffers from, however, is its lack of depth. The story remains on the surface and so do the characters (with a few exceptions – Vincke, Nazim –). Nowhere does Verheyen know how to go deeper. Then it can all be so professionally made, if a film doesn’t strike the right chord, the audience is left with a great void.

Who says ‘File K.’ is simply an extra long broadcast of ‘Flikken’, this production falls short. Visually, this thriller is impressive and there is certainly not bad acting. The film tries to fill the gap between the tough police series and the layered, exciting crime film, but only partially succeeds. If you like action, then you can sit down to this thriller filmed by Hollywood standards: like a heavy, short-lived adrenaline shot. Nothing wrong with that, but keep in mind that you will have forgotten the film in no time. The skeleton looks pristine, but unfortunately there is too little meat on the bones. How would Erik Van Looy have handled it anyway…?