Interview (2003)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Theo van Gogh

Writers:

Theodor Holman (screenplay)
Hans Teeuwen (idea)

Release Date:

28 May 2003 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Renowned journalist Pierre has to interview the most famous Dutch actress, Katja Schuurman, against his wishes.

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Drug Use | Crying | Wine | Diary

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Katja Schuurman	...	Katja
Pierre Bokma	...	Pierre
Theo Maassen	...	Theo
Ellen Ten Damme	...	Ellen
Michiel de Jong	...	Soapie
Tinoes Fenanlamrer	...	Agent
Monique Meijer	...	Agent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Theo van Gogh	...	Himself

Runtime:

Canada:89 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:90 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-18 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Column Productions

Trivia:

The little accident with the car when Pierre and Katja meet in front of her apartment is real. Katja did in fact forgot to put on the brake of her car and director Van Gogh decided to keep the footage in.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Interview (2007/I)

Soundtrack:

See All Her Faces

'And in this corner of the ring...'

INTERVIEW is a smart little independent film adapted from the 2003 Theo van Gogh film by the same name, a film that drew a lot of attention based on a script by Theodor Holman, which in turn was based on an idea by Hans Teeuwen sparring the famous Dutch actress Katja Schuurman with actor Pierre Bokma. In this adaptation Steve Buscemi reworked the Holman screenplay with the help of David Schechter, changing the female role to a tabloid type bombshell actress (also named Katya, played with razor sharp clarity by Sienna Miller) with a disgruntle political reporter Pierre (Steve Buscemi) whose career is on the skids requiring that he take lousy assignments such as this interview to stay alive.

Other than a disastrous opening in a classy restaurant where the two characters realize they are ridiculously mismatched as an interview pair, the entire film takes place in Katya's loft. Katya appears shallow and short of goals and Pierre only acquiesces to complete the interview when he suffers a head injury and is invited for ice and drink to Katya's place. What ensues is a battle of wits in which each of the two characters discovers more about each other than either cares to disclose, and after a 'mating dance' of sorts the two return to their separate corners of the boxing ring - each having a final twist on the other's private life. It is a play within a play and the words make all the difference.

Sienna Miller is becoming one of the more important actresses on the screen and in this role she proves her mettle in a superbly nuanced role. Steve Buscemi may not have been the optimal choice to play Pierre, but he is sharp to watch and is never short of intelligence, both as an actor and as a writer/director. Not an action movie and not a film for those who need strong narrative, but for viewers who enjoy the barbs and wit of a sparring match, this is a well-made example of the genre. Grady Harp