Three Dutch boys, one messy decade, and the kind of friendship that ruins you in the best way.
Acting
Minne Koole's Philip — all hunger and hesitation, devastatingly real.
Direction
Van Erp captures Amsterdam's golden haze and its cold, indifferent edges.
Director
Michiel van Erp
Minne Koole
Philip Hofman
Jonas Smulders
Matt de Jager
Chris Peters
Jacob van Wijnbergen
Sofie Porro
Karen Ricks
Julia Akkermans
Elisabeth de Vries
Anneke Blok
mother Philip
Hans Kesting
father Jacob
Ariane Schluter
mother Jacob
Huub van der Lubbe
father Matt
Kim Feenstra
Daphne
Jacqueline Blom
mother Elisabeth
Gijs de Lange
father Elisabeth
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on the controversial Dutch novel 'Open Seas' by Philip Huff, which was criticized for its unflinching portrayal of casual sex and emotional manipulation among privileged Amsterdam students. The film softens some edges but keeps the essential cruelty of youth.
Amsterdam's student societies (corpsen) remain notoriously exclusive and class-bound; the film's portrayal of this world was considered scandalous by older Dutch critics who preferred not to acknowledge the queerness and cruelty within these institutions. Minne Koole went on to star in 'Mocro Maffia,' becoming one of the Netherlands' most sought-after actors.
NL
