Then what is love (2019)

Directed by: Aniëlle Webster | 103 minutes | romance, comedy | Actors: Elise Schaap, Maarten Heijmans, Teun Luijkx, Anneke Blok, Michiel Romeyn, Maike Meijer, Aiko Beemsterboer, Jan-Paul Buijs, René van ‘t Hof, Mandela Wee Wee, Monica Geuze, Marie-Louise Stheins, Paul Groot, Owen Schumacher, Hannah van Lunteren, Beppie Melissen, Esther Scheldwacht, Carolien Spoor, Aus Greidanus sr.

Elise Schaap is currently in the spotlight. Not only did she win the Gouden Televizier Ster Actor/Actress 2019, because of her great acting in TV programs such as ‘De TV-kantine’, Soof de serie’ and ‘Familie Kruys’, she also stars in the romantic comedy ‘Wat is dan love’ (2019) by director Aniëlle Webster (‘Housewives don’t exist’, 2017). Sheep is praised for the excellent way in which she shapes characters; she already crawled into the skin of celebrities such as Estelle Cruijff, Famke Louise, Olcay Gulsen and Nikkie Plessen. But especially her role of the Romanian Ruxandra in the TV series ‘Familie Kruys’ makes her popular with the public. In ‘What is love then’ Schaap plays Cato de Virtue, a successful divorce mediator who is renowned for her calm, communicative approach; she even wrote a bestseller about it. By coincidence, she is asked to work for the large law firm of Wim Boeker (Michiel Romeijn), a giant in the field who will soon retire and is also looking for a successor. Despite her ‘goat wool socks image’, Cato is eager to become a partner, but first she has to deal with the smooth Gijn (Maarten Heijmans), who is her opposite in every way. For example, he goes all out in divorce cases, prefers to park his Porsche sideways in a disabled parking space, plays with stress balls in the shape of breasts and, when the boss is not looking for a while, dives into the toilet with secretaries – whom he calls ‘deer’. quick seesaw.

As you can feel with these kinds of films, it turns out that there is quite a nice guy hiding behind that facade of clumsy greediness. And Cato in turn turns out to have more hair on his teeth than many people think. She hardly stands out in the business world of the law firm, because she does not believe in true love. She has been in a relationship for eight years with the gentle musician Sander (Teun Luijkx), who may not be so successful and successful in life, but who loves her sincerely and is ready with a lovingly made prakkie when she comes home. Cato does not seem to get hot or cold, but it is of course nice and safe and familiar. Her parents (Beppie Melissen and René van ‘t Hof) have also been separated for years and her sister Judith (Maike Meijer) and her husband (Tjebbo Gerritsma) have also been messing around for a while. So why should you believe in true love? Until she turns out to fall head over heels for Gijs and he for her too. For a woman who sees infatuation merely as ‘a lot of chemicals’, these feelings take some getting used to…

‘What Is Love Then’ is a romantic comedy that questions the existence and meaning of true love, but then goes full into it. Because the cynical approach from the beginning is not extended to the end by screenwriter Dorien Goertzen (‘Rendez-Vous’, 2015). What starts out refreshingly becomes more and more predictable and the questions the film asks itself are somewhat half-heartedly answered. Had we been dealing here with actors of a lesser caliber, then ‘What is love’ with its contradictory message would have been a great disappointment. Fortunately, the cast is full of top actors, who easily take the film to a higher level. Of course there’s Schaap, who manages to bring Cato’s remarkable transformation from goat wool sock to career tiger believable like no other binge drinking charming. Opposite this is the equally talented Maarten Heijmans, who, just like before in the excellent series ‘Klem’, shows that he can play an excellent asshole, but one with a small heart. A corps ball at work, but a true family man with his parents in Friesland. The characters are rich and the smaller roles are also filled by wonderful actors; of course Michiel Romeijn, who scores points with his appearance alone, but also Anneke Blok with her great timing, Beppie Melissen and René van ‘t Hof. Owen Schumacher and Paul Groot (deliberately?) keep their roles small and it is the young Aiko Beemsterboer, who plays Cato’s teenage niece, who comes up with the most striking remarks. Only that poor Teun Leuijkx comes off a bit poor as a good-natured lobbes; his Sander is such a boy who wishes you the very best. When his heart gets broken, ours breaks a little too.

Where Aniëlle Webster and Dorien Goertzen want to go with their story is a bit unclear and contradictory, but thanks to the cast full of great actors, the great humor and the characters who are sympathetic despite their flaws, we still include ‘What is love’ our arms. If only for the fantastic Elise Schaap and Maarten Heijmans!