The Marathon (2012)

Directed by: Diederick Koopal | 110 minutes | comedy, drama | Actors: Mimoun Oaïssa, Dragan Bakema, Georgina Verbaan, Loes Luca, Marcel Hensema, Frank Lammers, Martin van Waardenberg, Stefan de Walle, Joy Wielkens, Manuel Broekman, Ariane Schluter, Cynthia Abma

Your ‘running all the way around the house’ is not for everyone, as it turns out. Four men, purebred Rotterdammers, have to run the marathon. A marathon is of course a difficult task for anyone, but since the men have not had much more exercise than the walk to the fridge for years, it is very difficult. In fact, it seems so impossible for the ‘fat and ugly men’ to do it that a bet is placed: Houssein’s Occasions is willing to pay 40,000 euros if the men run the marathon. With this money one of the sportsmen, Gerard, can pay off all his debts and his garage has been saved, and with it the jobs of the men. However, if they don’t make it, Houssein’s garage is.

Yousoef, also an employee at the Garage, is renamed ‘trainer’ and prepares the men for the big test in six months. At least that’s what he tries. At the first training attempt, the men come back puking after just a minute, and the cyclist’s thirst is quenched with beer. The cigarettes are immediately lit again and the frikadels are already in the deep-fat fryer. Eventually the seriousness of the situation begins to dawn, and then the men start training seriously. The women don’t like it, who complain that the man no longer drinks beer, no longer eats moorheads, and no longer looks after his model trains; “You’re just running!”

Between all the laughter that ‘The Marathon’ produces, there is also depth. Gerard, played by Stefan de Walle, has terminal cancer, but doesn’t dare to tell anyone. Leo (Martin van Waardenburg) is forced to care for his wife’s neglected child, and so each character has its own story. Those sub-stories are subtly incorporated into the film, and on one occasion the entire story is even told in a single shot. This ultimate subtlety gives ‘The Marathon’ a very broad depth, which gives all the characters an extra layer.

‘The Marathon’ is the first film by director Diederick Koopal, who we already know from his earlier work. He is in fact an advertiser, known for the best commercials on the television: namely from the Supermarket Manager of that blue-and-white chain, from the Ski Instructor ‘Biertjeh?’ and many others. The film world had great confidence in him, he got the very best and nicest Dutch actors. Apparently advertising is a good exercise for making films, because ‘The Marathon’ has been very successful. Koopal’s way of filming makes even the worst joke joke a moment to laugh out loud. The pace is good, the fun, sad and serious moments alternate in such a way that it never gets boring. The soundtrack is also so nice, with wonderful musical moments throughout the film. The smile you have after watching ‘The Marathon’ will last for at least two more days.