Character | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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92% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings

Young lawyer Katadreuffe (Fedja van Huêt) is the chief suspect in the murder of the cold-hearted bailiff Dreverhaven (Jan Decleir). The two have long been rivals, waging personal battles through the courts, and Katadreuffe was observed leaving the scene of the crime. Giving his testimony to police, Katadreuffe effectively tells his life story, in which his ambition for success in the legal world was driven by a hatred of his biological father -- who was, secretly, Dreverhaven.

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Critics Reviews

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Character | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Daniel Fienberg Zap2it.com Very well shot, but narratively it's pretentious, wannabe Kafka, heavyhanded dreck. Not sure how it won an Oscar. Rated: 2/5 Sep 17, 2005 Full Review Character | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Globe and Mail Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review Character | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Rated: 3.5/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Character | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy This delicious Dutch import cleverly uses every facet of its meticulous production to maximize its dramatic worth. Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 27, 2025 Full Review Character | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com This powerful family melodrama from the Netherlands won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar Rated: B+ Aug 14, 2011 Full Review Character | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) A remarkably stylish, well-crafted film that constantly surprises on the level of cinematic creativity alone. Rated: 4/5 Jun 27, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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gajah d Fabulous film, captures not only a venemous father-son relationship, but a particular moment in Dutch late colonialism. I have been looking forward to a blu-ray for years, but haven't seen one yet. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Excelente muestra del avasallador tormento que infringe el rigor de un búsqueda genuina del interior. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Vincent L Still my favourite Dutch movie.Famous Belgian actor Jan Decleir once again gives a powerhouse performance that completely dominates the screen in any scene he appears in, which of course is fitting for the character he plays.Fedja van Huet als performs brilliant from a completely opposite mindset but no less compelling.The cinematography is breathtaking and I don't think Rotterdam ever looked so beautiful.It's a perfect adaptation of one of the best Dutch novels. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/25/17 Full Review Audience Member A great overlooked thriller. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member beautiful movie, a must see Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Heerlijke vertolking, excellente keuze van beginscene en geniale omzetting van de droge derdepersoondvertelling in Katadreuffe die zijn levensverhaal vertelt. Sterke karakters, met Jan Decleir zeer overtuigend in de rol van Dreverhaven. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

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Mike van Diem Director Fedja van Huêt Jacob Katadreuffe Jan Decleir Dreverhaven Betty Schuurman Joba Victor Löw De Gankelaar Tamar van de Dop Lorna te George

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Synopsis Young lawyer Katadreuffe (Fedja van Huêt) is the chief suspect in the murder of the cold-hearted bailiff Dreverhaven (Jan Decleir). The two have long been rivals, waging personal battles through the courts, and Katadreuffe was observed leaving the scene of the crime. Giving his testimony to police, Katadreuffe effectively tells his life story, in which his ambition for success in the legal world was driven by a hatred of his biological father -- who was, secretly, Dreverhaven.

Director
Mike van Diem

Producer
Laurens Geels

Screenwriter
Ferdinand Bordewijk, Mike van Diem, Laurens Geels, Ruud van Megen

Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics

Production Co
Almerica Film

Rating
R

Genre
Drama

Original Language
Dutch

Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 27, 1998, Original

Release Date (DVD)
Feb 4, 2003

Box Office (Gross USA)
$743.9K

Runtime
2h 0m

Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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Character | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)
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