HannaHannaH (2007)

Directed by: Annemarie van de Mond | 77 minutes | comedy | Actors: Maria Kraakman, Antonie Kamerling, Janni Goslinga, Kees Boot, Tanja Jess, Catalijn Willemsen, Barry Atsma, Eva Van der Gucht, Marcel Hensema, Sanne den Hartogh, Eva Damen, Olga Zuiderhoek, Kees Hulst, Paul Geusebroek, John Buijsman, Eva van Kleef, Raúl van Kleef, Dominique Vrijhoef, Steef Verheijen, Luciano Balestra, Bob Seelbach, Beau Meuldijk, Kars Roland, Lisse Roland, Jasmijn Kuipers, Jordy van Hartrop

A comedy from Dutch soil? For some, doubts immediately get the upper hand. That is incorrect in this case. With ‘HannaHannaH’, director Annemarie van de Mond has succeeded in creating a witty and smoothly designed story with excellent acting performances. As can be expected in a comedy, the depth of the story is not too great. That need not be a problem in this genre and is more than compensated here by the enthusiastic play and the clear fun with which the entire cast acts.

The role of Hannah is excellently played by Maria Kraakman, who already won a Golden Calf in 2005 for her acting performance in ‘Guernsey’. This time too, she can be enjoyed to the fullest. She has a very expressive facial expression and almost flaming red hair. The role of Victor, her boyfriend from – it seems – for one night, is convincingly played by Antonie Kamerling. After making his TV debut in the distant past in ‘Goede Tijden, Bad Tijden’, he has developed into a successful actor.

Hannah has had many mixed relationships and especially does not want to commit. She is more or less allergic to the word ‘bunch’. Victor accidentally ends up in the organization of the family party, much against Hannah’s wishes. Such a family celebration in which the parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary naturally also includes some drama. During the basically joyful day, the emotions should be released. However, the holiday threatens to spiral out of control. Tempers run high, subcutaneous feelings of jealousy and old accounts that have never been settled.

It is a colorful company that is forced to behave positively on this day to give father and mother a nice day. The roles of father and mother are played very engagingly and credibly by acclaimed actors Kees Hulst and Olga Zuiderhoek. You can confidently entrust the portrayal of such relativistic types with a good portion of irony and a realistic philosophy of life to them. There is much to enjoy. Mom and Dad don’t have to do it all, such a holiday: they would rather have gone out themselves for a weekend on Terschelling. But yes, the children are doing their best.

A nice find in the scenario of ‘HannaHannaH’ is that not only the children, but also the parents have a present. Mom and Dad leave a message for the children for a video camera. During that recording, their mutual differences are also unexpectedly expressed and subjects are suddenly spoken that they managed to keep from each other during their 40-year marriage.

During the preparations for the day and also during the inevitable puzzle run, skirmishes take place that lead to the usual thorns. Brothers and sisters who seem to drink each other’s blood, hateful things about each other’s success and misfortune, marital infidelity that suddenly becomes known by accident. The resulting dialogues continue to have a humorous and positive overtone. As a result, the whole thing keeps up a lot of momentum and joviality and this comedy of course does not degenerate into a ‘Festen’-like final reckoning.

‘HannaHannaH’ is a smooth story with a lot of humor, but also with sharp dialogues. In addition, there is enough variety to more subdued moments in which Hannah and Victor, full of doubts, try to build their one-night relationship into something beautiful.

Witty and witty, witty and just plain fun.