Tom Eagle (2018)

Directed by: Gonzalo Fernandez | 50 minutes | drama | Actors: Yannick Jozefzoon, Manoushka Zeegelaar Breeveld, Chris Peters, Katrien van Beurden, Werner Kolf, Dennis Rudge, Maikel van Hetten

The conflict between his traditional Surinamese origin and the liberal life of today: for Sharif every day is an ordeal. His mother, however loving, expects him to remain her little boy forever. The family ties are there to stay tight. And the classic customs and customs of the homeland are also there to be faithfully followed. Birthdays are inaugurated by a special Winti priest and concluded with a huge pot of peanut soup.

But a different world beckons for political science student Sharif. Thanks to a friend, he is introduced to the world of cryptocurrency. The image of mountains of money and unlimited sex has steadily settled in his mind. Sharif joins a company trying to market a Chinese digital currency. It doesn’t bother him that the virtual currency has no value. He can also become rich by selling the holes in the cheese. The soundness of the affair is someone else’s concern.

A problem. With his exotic name he can make few similarities. Completely against his roots, Sharif changes his name to the traditional Dutch Tom Adelaar. While the freebooter tries to wrestle from his roots, the old traditions fight back twice as hard. And threatens to turn Sharif more and more into a modern Scarface.

The ironic reading of manufacturability is given a delightfully playful performance in ‘Tom Adelaar’. Prejudices and stereotypes are used to optimally exploit the contrast between old and new. Because the film is averse to engagement and platitudes, the film also looks remarkably modern and fresh by Dutch standards. A breath of fresh air. The strongest point of ‘Tom Adelaar’, however, is the acting. Especially Sharif interpreter Yannick Jozefzoon plays with so much pleasure that as a spectator you automatically go along with his enthusiasm. Although the film is not perfect, it may be too casual for that, ‘Tom Adelaar’ tastes very good.