Antonia (1995)

Director:

Marleen Gorris

Writer:

Marleen Gorris (writer)

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A motion picture that celebrates everything you love about life.

Plot:

A Dutch matron establishes and, for several generations, oversees a close-knit, matriarchal community where feminism and liberalism thrive.

Plot Keywords:

Suicide | Women | Offscreen Rape | Lesbianism | Female Nudity

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Willeke van Ammelrooy	...	Antonia
Els Dottermans	...	Danielle
Dora van der Groen	...	Allegonde
Veerle van Overloop	...	Thérèse
Esther Vriesendorp	...	Thérèse (13)
Carolien Spoor	...	Thérèse (6)
Thyrza Ravesteijn	...	Sarah
Mil Seghers	...	Kromme Vinger (Crooked Finger)
Jan Decleir	...	Boer Bas
Elsie de Brauw	...	Lara
Reinout Bussemaker	...	Simon
Marina de Graaf	...	Deedee
Jan Steen	...	Lippen Willem
Catherine ten Bruggencate	...	Malle Madonna (Mad Madonna)
Paul Kooij	...	Protestant
Fran Waller Zeper	...	Olga
Leo Hogenboom	...	Pastoor (The Village Priest)
Flip Filz	...	Kapelaan (The Curate)
Wimie Wilhelm	...	Letta
Dirk Zeelenberg	...	Pier
Ellen Dikker	...	Muisje
Jakob Beks	...	Boer Daan
Truus te Selle	...	Ma Gé
Filip Peeters	...	Pitte
Michael Pas	...	Janne
Erik de Bruyn	...	Arend
Petra Laseur	...	Mère Theodora
Michel van Dousselaere	...	Smid (Blacksmith)
Hans Man in 't Veld	...	Professor
Johan Heldenbergh	...	Tom
Victor Löw	...	Harry
Igor Corbeau	...	Simon (13)
Carlo van Dam	...	Simon (6)
Aurelie Verstraeten	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Jeroen Huysmans	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Kristel Olejniejoh	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Gilles Robertino	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Daisy van Laer	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Dorien van Laer	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Gabriella Martinson	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Gilles van Durme	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Nicky Wolfs	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Jesse Tomballe	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Menno Tomballe	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Sarah de Ceuleer	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Tamara Maes	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Barbara Maes	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Ilse Dense	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Christophe de Laere	...	Ander kind van Letta (Letta's Child)
Antoon Schotsaert	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Christophe Horemans	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Pieter Callens	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Jascha Vervoort	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Jenne Decleir	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Daniel Dailly	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Eddy Praet	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Adriaan Van den Hoof	...	Ander kind van Boer Bas
Cederic Missine	...	Kind van Muisje (Muisje's Child)
Tine Vanhoucke	...	Kind van Muisje (Muisje's Child)
Stijn Rabaey	...	Kind van Muisje (Muisje's Child)
Charlene Pottevin	...	Kind van Deedee (Deedee's Child) (as Charlène Pottevin)
Lineke Rijxman	...	Verteller (Narrator)
Gosewijn Zwanikken	...	Picture of Jesus
Manon Sodderland	...	Picture of Mary
Margo Dames	...	Thérèse (voice)
Hans Kesting	...	Blacksmith (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reinier Verhoef	...	Janne, age 12 (uncredited)

Directed by
Marleen Gorris

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Marleen Gorris		writer

Produced by
Gerard Cornelisse	....	producer
Judy Counihan	....	co-producer
Hans De Weers	....	producer (as Hans de Weers)
Hans de Wolf	....	producer
Antonino Lombardo	....	co-producer
Margaret Matheson	....	co-producer
Bert Nijdam	....	line producer
Wim Odé	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Ilona Sekacz

Cinematography by
Willy Stassen

Film Editing by
Wim Louwrier
Michiel Reichwein

Casting by
Job Gosschalk
Hans Kemna

Art Direction by
Harry Ammerlaan

Costume Design by
Jany Temime

Makeup Department
Mabi Anzalone	....	additional makeup artist
Remi Bakker	....	makeup - jesus & mary pictures
Stella Bertiglia	....	additional makeup artist
Sjoerd Didden	....	makeup - jesus & mary pictures
Jan Sewell	....	makeup designer
Deborah Taylor	....	makeup artist
Hennesien van Walderveen	....	makeup artist
Catherine Wilkins	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jo van Hende	....	unit manager
Hervé Heymans	....	assistant unit manager
James Roberts	....	production supervisor: UK
Johan van den Driessche	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charlotte Fontijn	....	second assistant director
Maria Uitdehaag	....	assistant director

Art Department
Rob Bos	....	construction supervisor
Annemarie Brandt	....	property master: Holland
Hans Broers	....	set constructor
Jules de Wolf	....	set constructor
Kees Folkers	....	set constructor
Wim Gerbscheid	....	set painter
Monique Lefebvre	....	property master: Belgium
Kurt Loyens	....	assistant property master: Belgium
Elvira Min	....	set painter
Alexis Remacle	....	prop runner
Marco Rooth	....	construction coordinator
Jan Rutgers	....	set constructor
Wouter Severijn	....	assistant set dresser
Judith Ten Bosch	....	paintings
Ron Van Beusekom	....	set constructor
Wim van Couteren	....	prop runner
Steven van Couwelaar	....	set dresser
Rudy van den Berg	....	assistant art director
Lovis Van Poeteren	....	portrait artist (as Louis van Poeteren)
Ed Vossen	....	set constructor

Sound Department
Philippe Baudhuin	....	foley mixer
Dirk Bombey	....	sound
Georges Bossaers	....	sound effects
Inge Flore	....	sound intern
Thomas Gauder	....	foley mixer
Bert Marskamp	....	dubbing mixer
Christian Monheim	....	assistant sound
Peter Oskam	....	dubbing mixer
Wim Post	....	sound mixer
Michiel Reichwein	....	sound mixer
Yves Renard	....	foley mixer
Marie-Jeanne Wijckmans	....	foley artist (as Marie-Jeanne Wyckmans)

Special Effects by
Olivier de Laveleye	....	special effects
Steven van Couwelaar	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Alessio Anzalone	....	lighting technician (as Alex Anzalone)
Elisabeth Broeckaert	....	still photographer
Patrick Decoster	....	camera operator: second unit
Bruno Dussart	....	lighting assistant
Yorgos Giannelis	....	clapper loader
René Haan	....	gaffer
Philippe Piron	....	focus puller
Aldo Piscina	....	clapper loader (as Aldo Piscine)
Kris Renson	....	focus puller
Jean-François Roqueplo	....	grip
Nandos Scheerder	....	still photographer
Willy Stassen	....	camera operator
Ella Van den Hove	....	focus puller: second unit
Manu Van Wambeke	....	assistant grip
Johan Vigeveno	....	publicity photographer
Jan Vrints	....	lighting intern

Casting Department
Rebecca van Leeuwen	....	casting: children
Nadia Obertan	....	casting assistant
Betty Post	....	casting assistant
Johan Seeuws	....	additional casting
Philip van Nijghem	....	additional casting
Annabelle Troukens	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Irène Ferrero	....	seamstress
Mariella Kallenberg	....	costumer
Wilfrid Laudicina	....	assistant costume designer
Isabel Soenen	....	seamstress
Lies Van Assche	....	seamstress
Judith de Zwart	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Peter Hunt	....	color grader
Iris Sikking	....	assistant editor
Wiebe van der Vliet	....	assistant editor
Sylvia Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Dick Bakker	....	conductor
Geert De Bruin	....	music recordist
Fred Dekker	....	orchestral management: Metropole Orkest
Hugh den Ouden	....	musical director
Metropole Orkest	....	orchestra
Oswald Slembrouck	....	orchestral management: Metropole Orkest
Frank van der Weij	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
Pieter Verhoeven	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jeroen Arnolds	....	legal advisor: Holland
Chris Berlize	....	banking services: Belgium
Marieke Böke	....	intern
Driss Bous'hib	....	production coordinator
Keith Bryant	....	laboratory contact
Marijke Crauwels	....	production runner
Anthony Davies	....	script advisor
Anthony Davies	....	script translator
Bernard de Dessus	....	location scout
Jan Dellaert	....	production runner
Dominic De Preeuw	....	production runner
Ingrid De Rycke	....	production accountant: Belgium
Patricia Dobson	....	publicist: UK
Koen Dragers	....	production runner
Fréderic Gaillard	....	set runner
Ruben Goots	....	production runner
Christel Helsen	....	production secretary: Belgium
Johan Hoebeeck	....	banking services: Belgium
Les Houstier	....	location scout
Philippe Jadoul	....	legal advisor: Belgium
Kerstin Kambier	....	publicity intern
Thomas Kuitenbrouwer	....	production runner
Arne Labeeuw	....	production runner
Monsier Lalberteux	....	animal wrangler
Marianne Lambert	....	location manager
Rolf Leenders	....	fight arranger
Bart Luypaert	....	set runner
René Maes	....	production runner
Joost Moerbeek	....	caterer
Djo Munga	....	production runner
Wim Oudshoorn	....	mathematics consultant
Ralph Poulev	....	production runner
Marijtje Pronk	....	publicist: Holland/Belgium
Boris Remacle	....	set runner
Jet Smit	....	production assistant
Peter Terra	....	caterer
Marina Van Attenhoven	....	production assistant
Dorothy Vandenbogaerde	....	children coordinator
Onno Van Den Rijst	....	production accountant: Holland
Moniek Van der Kaaden	....	script supervisor
Jette Van Der Sande	....	production secretary: Holland
Jack Veenhoven	....	production runner
Steven Versyp	....	production runner
Roland Wigman	....	legal advisor: Holland
David Wilder	....	completion guarantor
John Charles	....	software engineer: TriCoast Studios (uncredited)
Andrew Litvin	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Trix van Alphen	....	publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Margarete Adorf	....	thanks
Rob Broek	....	thanks
Gerrit de Boer	....	thanks
Rick de Leeuw	....	thanks (as Rick de Leau)
Martin de Ruiter	....	thanks
Marianne Eggink	....	thanks
Matthijs van Heijningen	....	thanks (as Matthias van Heijningen)
Derek Littel	....	thanks
Cameron McCracken	....	thanks
The Peucelle Family	....	thanks
Bert Podevijn	....	thanks
Daniel Roels	....	thanks
Theresa Rogers	....	thanks
Anne Roucourt	....	thanks
Coen Schouten	....	thanks
Aaron Sherman	....	thanks
Karel Smaal	....	thanks
Robert van Moeseke	....	thanks
Eric Vloeimans	....	thanks (as Erik Vloeimans)
Michiel Weidner	....	thanks
Frank van der Weij	....	thanks
Hein Wiedijk	....	thanks
Dick Willemsen	....	thanks
Benjo Wolfensberger	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Bergen (presents)
• Prime Time (presents)
• Bard Entertainments (presents)
• Nederlandse Programma Stichting (NPS) (presents)
• Stimuleringsfonds Nederlandse Culturele Omroepproducties (support)
• Co-Productiefonds Binnenlandse Omroep (support)
• Meteor Film Productions (support)
• Nederlands Fonds voor de Film (support)
• Fonds Film in Vlaanderen (support)
• Eurimages (support) (as Fonds Eurimages van de Raad van Europa)
• Investco NV (support)
• European Co-production Fund (support)

Distributors

• Golem Distribución (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• First Look International (1996) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Líder Films (1996) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (1997) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (1999) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• BMG Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• BMG Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• First Look International (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• First Look International (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Lorber (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Madman Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Mundial Filmes (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• 101 Accountants  production accounting: UK
• A.S.L.K. (Algemene Spaar en Lijfrente Kas)  banking services: Belgium (as ASLK CGER Bank)
• Angels & Bermans  thanks
• Autoritiés Communales de la Neuville-aux-Tourneurs  thanks
• Beursschouwburg  thanks
• Château Leignon, La  thanks
• Cineco  film lab
• Cosi Catering  catering
• Crescendo Muziekwinkel  thanks
• Daisy Bell  sound post-production (as Daisy Belle)
• FTV Casting  casting: children
• Film Finances Services Ltd.  completion guarantor
• Fuji Trade Film Benelux  film stock supplied by
• Garbeau-Tuinterrassen  thanks
• Gebroeders Binet  thanks
• General Screen Enterprises  titles and opticals
• Hans Winkel Brillen  thanks
• Hollandwood Pictures  set construction
• ING Bank  banking services: Holland
• Industrion  thanks
• L'Equipe  foley recording
• Loca Flash  lighting
• London & New York Wig Company  thanks
• MCO Studio  music recorded and mixed at
• Marbrerie Roger Lelux & Fils  thanks
• McDonald and Rutter  publicity: UK
• MetaSound  dubbing and sound mixing
• Motorrijschool Jan Blom  thanks
• Museum van Langeveld  thanks
• Musée de le Vie Rurale et Forestière  thanks
• National Film Trustee Company  receipts collected and distributed by
• Olswang  legal advisor: UK
• PTT Telecom  thanks
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• RCM  film lab
• Rollins Hudig Hall  insurance
• Sales Company  sales agency
• Sarah Phillips Co.  thanks
• Screen Face  thanks
• Société Magrimat, La  thanks
• Sotrac  grip and electric equipment
• Stichting Veteran Autobusen  thanks
• Studio Orkater  music mixed at
• Studio Orkater  thanks
• Technicolor  film lab
• Université Libre de Bruxelles  thanks
• Vrij Tekenatelier 'Huis van Nispen'  thanks
• Wisseloord Studio's  additional music recorded at (as Wisseloord Studio, Hilversum)
• World Printing Service  thanks

Also Known As:

Antonia's Line (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, and for some violence, including a rape scene.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Netherlands | Belgium | UK

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Company:

Bergen

Quotes:

Antonia: This is no time for Schopenhauer. This is important.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

My Blue Heaven

Bring a couple of hankies

This is an incredibly seductive movie with a strong sense of the spirit of Demeter and Dionysus throughout. There's no Hollywood glamour here. Instead we have an unabashed celebration of life ("This is the only dance we dance") in which love, community and simple hard work prevail. The simple are seen as the equal of the gifted, and everybody (except for rapists and hypocrites) are appreciated for their strengths and forgiven their faults. Intellectualism is seen as quaint and unsocial (as in the person of Crooked Finger) possibly leading to a morbid cynicism. And brain power (as in the person of the prodigy Therese) is just another talent, like being able to laugh or to bale hay or to have lots of children.

This is the Dionysian view of life that doesn't allow for Apollo, and there's a lot to be said for it. But I couldn't help but reflect that during the time span depicted in this movie--five generations in Holland during the twentieth century--Europe experienced some of the most horrific events known to humankind, two world wars, genocide, concentration camps, poison gas, fire bombings, political repression, and the death of millions of people. But perhaps that is director Marleen Gorris's point, to see life at its most elemental, locally and without the horror of war and the delusions of generals and politicians.

What's not to like about that? Well, not to rain on anyone's love-fest, but we have vigilante justice here and a murder, seemingly justified and certainly agreeable to the audience since the victim was a brutal rapist. Men are not exactly banished, but they are put in their place, serving or (literally) servicing women. What is banished is orthodox religiosity in the form of a hypocritical cleric who (with his disciples, we are told) goes to town and becomes a social worker (!).

This is also an ode to feminism and a deliberate tear-jerker that manipulates the emotions of the audience. Yet, somehow Gorris, who also wrote the script, manages not to offend my sensitivities. I think it is because the movie amounts to a very effective sermon against prejudice of any kind, and because of the gentle humanity of her tale.

You'll forgive me, however, if I say that my favorite part was the handstand! It was just perfect.