Willeke van Ammelrooy

Born as a human magnet, Lucien has a simple but harsh life. He secretly dreams of a life as an artist but his father doesn’t allow him to show off his magic talent. On the run and away from home, he meets a small traveling circus. There he grows up to be an artist and a man as he falls deeply in love with Gervaise, the daughter of the circus director. But when the old life calls him back, he returns home disappointed to notice that nothing is as before. He loses his talent and his taste for life. He no longer fits this world, as the world no longer fits him.

Documentary on the Dutch filmmaker Dick Maas.

When the elderly burlesque dancer Elvira wishes to see her deceased husband Jean one last time, it is the devil who comes to pick her up.

Life Is Wonderful is a feel-good movie about love and longing. Best friends Mees and Boelie are spending a beautiful spring day in Amsterdam's Vondelpark. It seems like just a normal day, until they meet the young and attractive Panda. While the heat rises in the park, it's nowhere to be found between the long-married couple Etta and Ernst-Jan. Ernst-Jan suspects Etta of cheating and has his own ideas of how to catch her in the act. We also meet Rosa and Kees, old lovers whose paths cross after decades of not seeing each other. On this spring day in Amsterdam, their love starts blooming again.

Everybody knew Marco Bakker as Holland’s most cherished operetta prince. Until that one moment in 1997. Everything changed. How do you keep going? In this intimate portrait, we get to know a completely different side of Bakker. For example, it turns out the singer has mastered not only the ‘light frivolous pieces’, but also the demanding classics, and together with his partner Willeke van Ammelrooij, he is forced to swap their fairy-tale castle for a humble terraced house in his native village Beverwijk.

Kevin is a young footballer who recently made a multimillion deal by transferring to FC Barcelona. He hardly realizes what is happening to him. Too young, too rich, too beautiful. His girlfriend Elza knows how Kevin should spend his millions. She is eagerly anticipating her birthday where Kevin will ask her the most important question of all. Kevin's grandmother Karla observes it all from the sidelines with concern. Fortunately there is the down-to-earth event planner Lizzy who shows Kevin the meaning of true love.

"Pim is more consummate," actress Willeke van Ammelrooy concluded upon seeing Pim de la Parra again in Suriname, at the presentation of the restored version of his film Wan Pipel. This marked the end of her disagreement with the director, which arose during the making of this film, some 35 years ago now. The charming director doesn't seem like the kind of man you can stay angry with for long. Wan Pipel turned out to be a watershed in the career of this headstrong filmmaker, who shook up the Dutch film world in the late 1960s. Although he went on to fight back with his so-called "minimal movies," he would never again get the opportunities his talent and inventiveness deserved. In Parradox In-Soo Radstake provides a personal portrait of De la Parra, now 70 years of age, who after many adventures in the Netherlands has returned to his native Suriname. He discusses the major themes of his life and work, which for a long time coexisted: too many women, too little money, too much ego.

Januari 1963. Ondanks het barre weer besluit het bestuur van het Friese Elfstedencomité, onder druk van de media, met de kleinst mogelijke meerderheid van stemmen, dat de Elfstedentocht doorgaat. Tussen de duizenden die een startbewijs veroveren bevinden zich soldaat Henk Buma (Cas Janssen), boerenzoon Sjoerd Lelkama (Lourens van den Akker), arbeider Kees Ferwerda (Chris Zegers) en verpleegkundige Annemiek (Chava voor in 't Holt). Alle vier hebben zo hun reden om deze tocht der tochten te rijden. Door de dramatische en heroïsche gebeurtenissen zal deze Elfstedentocht, ook voor Henk, Sjoerd, Kees en Annemiek, als een van de meest legendarische de geschiedenis ingaan.

Ada, Esther, Marjorie y Frank son cuatro jóvenes holandeses que se embarcan en un vuelo hacia Nueva Zelanda para tratar de empezar una nueva vida. A las tres mujeres las esperan sus muchachos, que se habían adelantado para preparar el terreno, con la idea de casarse. Frank va con la esperanza de comprar tierras y dedicarse al cultivo de la vid ya la elaboración de vino. Pero, una vez en Nueva Zelanda, los cuatro verán que no siempre los sueños se hacen realidad, y la relación entre ellos también se convertirá en una montaña rusa de emociones y experiencias no siempre agradables.

A personal documentary by Denise Janzee, made in an attempt to get closer to her mother Willeke van Ammelrooy. On movie sets and on screen, Denise saw her mother cry, laugh and fight. At home, however, Willeke shut herself off when she was sad. “I’ll only come back out once I’m smiling again. Such is my way,” she used to say. The only time Denise really saw her cry was at the funeral of her father Leendert Janzee. He committed suicide when Denise was six years old. His decision to do so wasn’t unexpected, but his death nevertheless meant the ultimate loss for Willeke. She had wanted to let him live through her love. She feels defeated and locks herself in until she is ready to face the world again. Meanwhile she expresses herself through her characters. In this compelling film mother and daughter look back on this deciding and emotional period in their lives, illustrated by home movies.

Comedy inspired by the true story of Dennis P, who became Holland's biggest diamond thief, when he walked away with the entire 20 million euros stock of an international diamond trader, using a microwave oven as a swagbag.

"The Great Magician" - A portrait of Frans Zwartjes (1927-2017), sometimes called 'the most important experimental filmmaker of his time' by the American essayist Susan Sontag.

Acostumbrada a la tranquilidad de Illinois donde tiene su residencia, la Dra. Kate Forester se traslada a un ajetreado hospital de Chicago. Lo que más la duele es desprenderse de su preciosa casa de madera con unas enormes ventanas que dan al lago. Pero se la alquila a un desconocido, al que deja una nota pidiéndole que le reenvíe el correo a la nueva dirección. Alex Wyler, el nuevo inquilino, es un frustrado arquitecto con mucho talento que tiene una conexión especial con la casa.

Leon Mortier, a wealthy publisher, whilst driving through the forest one day, stops when he sees Lulu walking down the long narrow road. She gets into the car. Leon is amused and intrigued by her. When he pulls off, suddenly out of nowhere a man appears in front of the car and Leon accidentally hits him. He decides to take them both home to recover. Leon falls madly in love with Lulu. Both Lulu and the man stay on with him in the house. Lulu's behavior is unpredictable. Leon becomes suspicious and paranoid about her. As he begins to suspect that his friends are being unfaithful with Lulu, he decides to throw a dinner party with some of his closest friends. During the dinner he wants to confront them with their infidelity and expel them all from his life with Lulu. But when he discovers his son in the arms of Lulu, he decides also to get rid of her, a plan which backfires in a most unexpected way.

Two young boy twins receive a boat of their own by a stroke of luck. It turns out to be very fast and they use their boat to help out their friends.

A Flemish family comes together in their maternal home. Oscar, the grotesque patriarch, his bedridden wife Magda, his feeble son Johnny and his daughter Julia, who's married to a Moroccan soccer player. There's something wrong with Magda, who's not only plagued by her physical decay, but also by visions of her dead sister Marleen.

A family film, based on a well-known Dutch story from the Middle Ages. Mariken tells the compelling and poetic story of spirited young girl named Mariken. The orphan Mariken lives in a secluded forest with an eccentric old hermit. One day, she decides to leave her surroundings and sets off for town to buy a new goat. On her adventurous journey into the 'real' world, she finds out about the good and bad sides of people.

A family film, based on a well-known Dutch story from the Middle Ages. Mariken tells the compelling and poetic story of spirited young girl named Mariken. The orphan Mariken lives in a secluded forest with an eccentric old hermit. One day, she decides to leave her surroundings and sets off for town to buy a new goat. On her adventurous journey into the 'real' world, she finds out about the good and bad sides of people.

Story of two con men, Boorman and his younger assistant Laarmans, who are trying to sell companies their non-existing magazine.

En una tranquila granja de la campiña holandesa, la nonagenaria Antonia repasa su vida. Tranquilamente acostada en su cama, hace memoria hasta el día, poco después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, en que volvió al pueblo en el que nació. A partir de ahí, recuerda su vida durante los cincuenta años siguientes, así como la de sus hijos y nietos. Un día tras otro, el comportamiento independiente, inconsciente y algo excéntrico de Antonia y su familia, y en especial su lucha por el feminismo, se mezcla con la vida cotidiana del pueblo en que viven. La vieja granja se convierte en el hogar de personajes muy variados en los que el resentimiento inicial se convierte en tolerancia y, posteriormente, en amor.

David Storm learned 10 years ago that he has MS. For this reason and without telling her he leaves his girlfriend, Linda. Now he lives alone and only his brother, Anton, has much contact with him.

Placide's dad tells him on his deathbed he'll haunt Placide if he doesn't find a wife soon. Placide cautiously agrees, but he only wants to settle for a very beautiful woman. That might be easier said than done, since he is a vagabond. When he accidentally enters a photo shoot, Placide meets Sarah. He falls in love, but she is way out of his reach.

Young Barend is worried about the safety of the sailing vessel he is on. The owner is an unscrupulous and stingy man who skimps on repairs and Barend becomes aware of this. Inevitably there is drama and tragedy. The film is set in an early 20th century Dutch fishing village with local period costume and colour.

André (Franco Nero) lleva una vida desenfrenada llena de riesgos y peligros. Realizando el papel de actor de efectos especiales, teniendo una escuela de karate y demasiadas amantes, André se introduce en los mas complicados líos que podamos imaginar.

En el Amsterdam de 1955, Ciske, un chico de 11 años de edad, vive en una barriada. Su madre trabaja en un bar y su padre está fuera de casa. Ciske, pese a su corta edad, se propone combatir las injusticias de la vida, pese a que ello le traerá más de un problema... (FILMAFFINITY)

Documentary exploring why Belgian television doesn't invest more money in Belgian cinema as is the case in e.g. the netherlands.

Un ascensor comienza a mostrar un comportamiento errático, como dejar personas atrapadas y casi asfixiarlas o decapitar a un guardia de seguridad. Felix, el técnico de la compañía de ascensores, no puede encontrar nada extraño en los circuitos. Cuando acompañado de una periodista entrometida comienza a hacer preguntas a la empresa que suministra la electrónica a la compañía de ascensores, su jefe le da un permiso para no ir a trabajar. Una visita posterior a un profesor les lleva a creer que se están llevando a cabo unos malvados experimentos con microchips.

A parody of anthropology, linguistics, and cultural imperialism. The film follows an unlikely team of linguists into the wilds of an ersatz Patagonia to study the last speakers of a dying language. That language apparently consists of a single word, which therefore means everything.

Maarten, a 34 year old cell biologist, works on cloning. One night he dreams he has only seven days left to live.

Detectives Grijpstra and De Gier are sent to investigate the case of a man who apparently hanged himself in a center for oriental meditation. It is ruled as suicide and the case seems to be closed, but the same night there is an attempted break in. The investigation hits a dead end and everyone involved is a suspect. Based on the book "The Corpse in the Haarlemmer Houttuinen” by Jan-Willem van de Wetering.

Psychodrama. Black and white images of a mining area under the influence of a highly orthodox Catholicism in the 1930s are interspersed with color images of a protest action to save a small church.

The Mayor of a small Flemish town is determined at all costs to save a unique bird sanctuary from a ruthless businessman who advocates a housing development on the site. The main story, though, centres on a childhood trauma that unites the two men and a dark femme fatale whom one desires and the other attempts to manipulate.

De Mantel der Liefde is a bizarre, over the top and at times hilarious settling of scores with the Catholic Church, commercial movie culture and 1970's petit bourgeois Dutch culture in general.

The film tells the story of Freek Groenevelt and Simone Marijnissen whose lives are taken over by Joachim Stiller.

First full-length experimental feature by filmmaker Zwartjes about an actress, played by Willeke van Ammelrooy, who during the whole film, in continuously changes moods, is busy in her room. Eventually, she is made an offer by telephone. But what offer does the actress get?

A wealthy French couple unable to bear children but determined to start a family agree to use an anonymous surrogate . Upon seeking a professional opinion on the matter, the couple is advised to seek out an anonymous surrogate. Though the procedure is a success, Jean-Paul becomes entirely consumed in his quest to discover the identity of the young woman (Willeke van Ammelrooy) who is currently carrying his child. Upon coming face to face with the ravishing young beauty, Jean-Paul initiates a torrid affair that will profoundly affect the lives of all involved.

Back in his native Suriname to see his dying mother, an Afro-Surinamese student from the Netherlands’ former colony finds himself torn between his Amsterdam-based life with his white Dutch girlfriend and a future in his newly independent homeland when he falls for a local Hindostani nurse.

Well to do business man Pierre falls for the unpredictable and free spirited Toni. They begin a relationship, despite the fact that she's living with another man who is the father of her child.

Heirs to a family fortune are invited to a Corsican villa, where sex and murder are always lurking around the corner.

Susan ha elegido la vida de un ermitaño en una granja en ruinas en lugar de la poca profundidad de su vida de modelo de jet set anterior. Cuando Anton, un mensajero forzoso, se acerca a recogerla para una asignación en la Riviera francesa, está tan fascinado por la extraña variedad de huéspedes de Susan que decide quedarse con ellos por un par de días.

'Alicia' is a Dutch erotic film directed by Wim Verstappen, based on an original screenplay by Wim Verstappen and Charles Gormley. Alicia, a bored hosewife, leaves her husband and children in search of adventure.

A Dutch pilot with a real passion for flying risks everything to keep his DC3/Dakota plane in the air. Excellent attention to detail and the beautiful backdrop of the Caribbean make this seldom seen much loved Dutch classic well worth watching.

Un profesor ganador de un Premio Nobel, cansado de su vida, se retira al bosque y comienza una colonia para aquellos que buscan cumplir sus deseos.

The attack of a bank turns into a massacre, leaving many dead. The bandits flee, taking two young women hostage. Unfortunately for them, one of them is none other than the girl of Burke Malloway, the famous trapper.

Una pareja casada atraviesa una dura etapa en su matrimonio. La convivencia se hace cada día más insoportable. El marido es un mujeriego incurable, y la mujer está cansada de su inmadurez y quiere una vida más estable. Sin embargo, ellos se aman y cuidan el uno del otro.

Una mujer cuyo marido fue asesinado cinco años antes es acosada por el asesino, que quiere eliminarla porque teme que haya sido testigo del crimen. Lo que ignora es que a la viuda el shock le ha causado amnesia y no recuerda nada.

Burgler and master safe-cracker Glimmie is asked to find a young woman called Fanny by her rich stepfather Van Borsen. However, Glimmie remains suspicious of the man and decides that Fanny has to be protected by him and his pal 'De Bonk'. He is soon proved correct and winds up a scapegoat in Van Borsen's scheme. After his release from prison, Glimmie plans his revenge with some help from a young cleaning girl called Slofje.

The young Isabelle escapes from the orphanage and she adopted by two chaps on a caravan. They then meet by chance the posh family of Louise- who runs away with the three adventurers when confronted with the reality of having to marry a Belgian with a large moustache and a bald head. They find a dog. Later Louisa degenerates into a minor moment of sexual hedonism and multiplexing with the two chaps before they are all overwhelmed by the Armageddon that was WWI.

The story of a small and conservative West-Flemish village opposing the construction of a bridge over the Scheldt.

Joop is sleeping in the apartment of his friend Bernard. He is waken up by a woman who is looking for Bernard. Later they babysit the neighbor's granddaughter. A little short film from the Scorpio period. Jan de Bont behind the camera.

Instructional film about the (former) biggest harbour in the world, with a hybrid format. Well known Ivens themes are revisited, like The Flying Dutchman in the fiction part of the film, who returns to the modern day Rotterdam, that has recovered very well after the devastating bombardments in the second world war.