Hunting & Zn. (2009)

Directed by: Sander Burger | 93 minutes | drama | Actors: Dragan Bakema, Maria Kraakman, Noël Keulen, Hans Hoes, Rick Nicolet, Mirjam Stolwijk, Celia Nufaar

‘Hunting & Son.’ is the third film by Dutch director/screenwriter Sander Burger. Firstfruits ‘Oliver etc.’ was a reasonable but volatile debut, placing Burger in a no man’s land between progressive arthouse filmmakers (Leopold, De Jong) and the conservative Dutch mainstream. Successor ‘Panman: Rhythm of the Palms’ was a Caribbean outing, but ‘Hunting & Zn.’ fits in the same vein as the debut. A mature contemporary drama, in a style that does not want to please but also does not deviate too much from the usual.

Compared to ‘Olivier etc.’ is ‘Hunting & Zn.’ a big step forward. Where the debut suffered from a spectacular premise that is never fully fulfilled, ‘Hunting & Zn.’ on a much more mundane subject. And now the problem is treated in depth and convincingly. With the characters Tako and Sandra we see two representatives of a generation that has remained a child for far too long. The generation in their thirties in 2010, who would like to go through life as adults but have no idea how.

These two thirty-somethings are portrayed here convincingly and with an eye for detail by Dragan Bakema and Maria Kraakman, who also co-wrote the intelligent script. The dialogues are alternately hilarious and sharp, with the hilarious mainly in the desperate optimism of people who have to get along well and who have to do anything and everything; people who even have to spout serious opinions about their friends’ wedding films (quite professional, nice colors too).

The appreciation for ‘Hunting & Zn.’ will depend on whether the viewer can go along with some of the story elements. Especially at the end of the film things happen that are on the edge, such as a nasty scene with an IV. The characters aren’t always convincing either. We would like to believe that this woman does not come to the doctor. The fact that this man wants to solve it all himself is a bit harder to swallow.

They are just minor blemishes on a film that you would recommend to anyone. A drama that goes its own way uncompromisingly, with lifelike characters full of human weaknesses and annoying traits. A refreshing film in which the biggest lump of grump (Tako’s mother) has the sharpest eye. A look at thirty-somethings desperately trying to be happy. Because they have to.