The Alzheimer’s Case (2003)

Directed by: Erik van Looy | 120 minutes | action, drama, crime, thriller | Actors: Jan Decleir, Koen de Bouw, Werner de Smedt, Jo de Meyere, Hilde de Baerdemaeker, Els Dottermans, Geert van Rampelberg, Tom van Dyck, Gene Bervoets, Lone van Roosendaal

‘De Alzheimer’s case’ by Erik van Looy (‘Shades’, 1999) is a film adaptation of the eponymous detective by Jef Geeraerts and was released by A-film in the Netherlands. In Belgium, the film has crossed the magical limit of 700,000 visitors and managed to take fourth place in the Flemish top ten.

The plot is not very original, but the strong acting of the main and supporting actors keeps the audience’s attention in a good way. Jan Decleir, known for ao Character (1997), Mariken (2000) and television series Meiden van de Wit, is always a pleasure to watch. In The Alzheimer’s Case, he plays hit man Angelo Ledda with emerging Alzheimer’s symptoms. Nicely portrayed by the use of ‘split screen’ and ‘speet ramping’. Despite his terrible appearance (“it looks like he has been under a tram for two years” according to his client) you gradually develop sympathy for the man as a viewer. Ledda’s visit to his brother, who also has Alzheimer’s, adds to this. The detective duo Vincke and Verstuyft, respectively Koen de Bouw and Werner de Smedt, are also perfectly in place in this film. As the thinker and the doer, both complement each other well. To draw the public’s attention to the fact that there are also women in the police force, the beautiful Hilde de Baerdemaeker has been added to the cast with an unfortunately insignificant role.

With a budget of 2.5 million euros, producer Erwin Provoost has succeeded in setting up a production of the same caliber as many American equivalents with significantly larger budgets. The scenes are well developed and the film is visually very strong. A striking detail is that where an average Flemish film has 1200 image changes, ‘De Case Alzheimer’ has 3500. The film keeps up the momentum and keeps the viewer captivated until the very end.

The only point of criticism is that political power games are central to the plot, putting the subject of child prostitution on the sidelines. Just when the Dutroux case came to court in Belgium, this aspect deserved more attention, which gave the substantive side of the film a somewhat deeper meaning.

With their first book adaptation, director Erik van Looy and producer Erwin Provoost have delivered an expertly crafted, well-cast thriller/detective. A real recommendation.