Little Ice Age (2017)

Directed by: Paula van der Oest | 85 minutes | comedy, drama | Actors: Hannah Hoekstra, Johan Heldenbergh, Monic Hendrickx, Anniek Pheifer, Bas Keijzer, Cees Geel, Ariane Schluter, Thijs Boermans, Steef Cuijpers, Manoushka Zeegelaar Breeveld

‘Tonio’ ​​(2016), the film adaptation of AFTh van der Heijden’s successful and award-winning novel of the same name about the sudden death of the writer’s only son, was an intense experience for director Paula van der Oest. Not only because of the heavy subject, but also because the production required an extremely detailed approach; after all, it was Van der Heijden’s personal story. Van der Oest was able to let go of that intensity when she started her next film. ‘Little Ice Age’ (2017) is different from its predecessor in every way. Van der Oest wrote the screenplay together with Rifka Lodeizen, filmed the whole thing in just ten days on a modest budget in guerilla style. The focus is on the actors and their playing, everything else remains in the background. Van der Oest was inspired for the story by the American classic ‘The Big Chill’ (1983) by Lawrence Kasdan (the title already contains a nod to that film).

‘Little Ice Age’ is about a number of friends who formed a band together thirty years ago. Now they come together in a country house in Limburg to say goodbye to Kas (Claw Boys Claw singer Peter te Bos), the frontman of the band who passed away six months earlier. On the day that should have been his birthday, they want to scatter his ashes. They are received by Sallie (Anniek Pheifer), Kas’s heavily pregnant widow. The friends all have their own problems, in both the personal and the relational sphere. Manager Alex (Johan Heldenbergh) is a type with fear of commitment, the relationship between Bertus (Cees Geel) and Marije (Monic Hendrickx) has been nothing for a while and also between Dave (Bas Keijzer) and Alisha (Manoushka Zeegelaar) are the relationships grown crooked. Then there is Kas’ ex-wife Valerie (Ariane Schluter) who is desperately looking for attention and affection and her now grown son Davy (Thijs Boermans, son of Van der Oest) who is ashamed of his mother’s eyes. We are waiting for the arrival of Lo (Steef Cuijpers), the former guitarist of the band who is the only one who is still somewhat of a celebrity now that he earns a living as a record boss. Lo eventually shows up, with a very young blonde (Hannah Hoekstra) on his arm. The arrival of this Delphine further sharpens the mutual relations.

The characters from ‘Little Ice Age’ represent a lost generation. They are people in their early fifties who all think they still matter but have missed a turn somewhere in their lives and now feel very unhappy. They are desperately clinging to a bygone era, acting like their twenties even as the physical discomfort sets in, and are expected to act more responsibly now than they were thirty years ago. All the problems you can expect in a group like this are reviewed: midlife crisis, infidelity, drug and alcohol addiction, fear of commitment, loneliness, fear and hidden desires. The wandering fifties are watched by twenty-somethings Davy and Delphina, who represent a completely different generation and who in turn have suffered the irresponsible behavior of their parents.

That may sound heavier than it is, because Van der Oest keeps it light, with loving, warm and also funny moments in between. That lightness also comes from the relaxed, uninhibited way of filming. And events don’t always turn out the way you initially think, which makes it surprising. Although the seasoned movie viewer really understands what the big reveal of the story must be, the road to it is entertaining and recognizable. Thanks to the strong cast, in which Schluter and Hoekstra particularly excel, we are dealing with lifelike characters who struggle with life in a natural way. ‘Little Ice Age’ is modest in design, but turns out to be surprisingly effective.