De zaak Alzheimer (2003)

Director:

Erik Van Looy

Writers:

Jef Geeraerts (novel)
Carl Joos (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

26 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Vincke and Verstuyft are the best detectives of the Antwerp police department. They are confronted with the murder on a leading executive and put all their effort to catch the murderer.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Detective | Assassin | Prostitute | Corpse

Awards:

7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Laurien Van den Broeck	...	Bieke Cuypers
Dirk Roofthooft	...	Vader Cuypers
Koen De Bouw	...	Eric Vincke
Werner De Smedt	...	Freddy Verstuyft
Hilde De Baerdemaeker	...	Linda de Leenheer
Geert Van Rampelberg	...	Tom Coemans
Jan Decleir	...	Angelo Ledda
Patrick Descamps	...	Gilles Resnais
Anne-Caroline Suberville	...	Dienster
Jan Dyck	...	Taxi Driver
Miek Van Bocxtaele	...	Receptionist (as Miek Van Bocxstaele)
Deborah Ostrega	...	Anja
Gene Bervoets	...	Seynaeve
Els Dottermans	...	Eva Van Camp
Lucas van den Eijnde	...	Bob Van Camp
Anaïs Terryn	...	Ine Van Camp
Lone van Roosendaal	...	Henriette Seynaeve
Jo De Meyere	...	Baron Gustave De Haeck
Johan van Assche	...	Van Parys
Roland De Jonghe	...	Paolo Ledda
Katrien Vandendries	...	Nurse
Ludo Hoogmartens	...	Businessman
Bart Slegers	...	Lemmens
Marc Peeters	...	Opdebeeck
Tom Waes	...	Verheyen
Filip Peeters	...	Major De Keyzer
Eddy Vereycken	...	Dr. Abbeloos
Kristine Arras	...	Housekeeper
Vic de Wachter	...	Joseph Vlerick
Tom Van Dyck	...	Jean de Haeck
Babett Manalo	...	Masseuse
Jan Van Looveren	...	Police Motorcyclist
Jappe Claes	...	Prosecutor Bracke
Marc Janssen	...	Chaplain
Peter Borghs	...	Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cela Yildiz	...	Reporter

Directed by
Erik Van Looy

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jef Geeraerts		novel
Carl Joos		screenplay
Erik Van Looy		writer

Produced by
Mark De Geest	....	executive producer
Hilde De Laere	....	producer
Erwin Provoost	....	producer
Sjef Scholte	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Stephen Warbeck

Cinematography by
Danny Elsen

Film Editing by
Yoohan Leyssens
Philippe Ravoet

Casting by
Gunter Schmid

Art Direction by
Johan Van Essche

Set Decoration by
Hendrik Van Kets

Costume Design by
Kristin Van Passel

Makeup Department
Esther De Goey	....	key makeup artist
Esther De Goey	....	makeup department head
Gerda van Hoof	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Guy De Lombaert	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddy Stevesyns	....	first assistant director
Jakob Verbruggen	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Steven Liegeois	....	assistant property master
Chris Lievens	....	constructor
Hendrik Van Kets	....	property master
Jimmy Van Meel	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Geert Engels	....	sound recordist
Peter Flamman	....	sound designer
Peter Flamman	....	sound mixer
Pierre Van Caloen	....	sound editor
Philippe van Leer	....	foley artist
Wart Wamsteker	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Olivier de Laveleye	....	special effects
Marie Pierre Franck	....	special effects (as Marie-Pierre Franckx)
Pierre Wuidart	....	special effects

Stunts
Willem de Beukelaer	....	stunt coordinator
Nicolas de Pruyssenaere	....	stunts
Marco Maas	....	utility stunts
Ronald Schuurbiers	....	stunts
Michel Struik	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Björn Charpentier	....	clapper loader
Wim Cloots	....	lighting technician
Jan Dellaert	....	focus puller
Dries Leerschool	....	grip
Dries Leerschool	....	key grip
Kurt Reybroeck	....	grip
Jan Rubens	....	Steadicam operator
Michel Struik	....	camera car operator
Wim Temmerman	....	gaffer
Jo Vermaercke	....	Steadicam operator
Bob Wouters	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Els Cuppens	....	costume assistant
Charlotte Willems	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Peter Bernaers	....	colorist
Arnout Deurinck	....	on-line editor
Huguette Vanvolsem	....	negative cutter (as Huguette van Volsem)

Music Department
Steve Parr	....	music mixer
Steve Parr	....	music recordist

Other crew
Jo van Hende	....	location manager

Thanks
Wim De Witte	....	thanks

Production Companies

• MMG Film & TV Production
• PVPictures (co-production)
• TROS Bridge Rights (co-production)
• TV1 (co-production)

Distributors

• ARP Sélection (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• NonStop Entertainment (2005) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• A-Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands)
• Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD)
• Sandrews (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Ace Digital House

Other Companies

• Ace Digital House  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

La mémoire du tueur (Belgium: French title)
The Alzheimer Affair (International: English title)
The Alzheimer Case (International: English title)
The Memory of a Killer (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

123 min | Belgium:135 min (director's cut)

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Belgium:KT | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

Company:

MMG Film & TV Production

Trivia:

The director (a big RAFC supporter) insisted that actor Gene Bervoets (a Beerschot supporter) whistle the anthem of RAFC in a scene where he's in the car (Beerschot and RAFC are both football clubs in Antwerpen, with 100 years of enmity dividing their fans). Gene Bervoets, however, agreed to do as requested immediately. Since his character is a complete bastard, he thought it quite logical that he would be an RAFC-fan.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Troughout the movie, the Antwerp police can be seen driving a Mercedes Vito. This car joined the force in 1999, while the movie is set in 1995.

Quotes:

Jean de Haeck: I wished...
Baron Henri Gustave de Haeck: "I wished" is for old wives. A man says "I want".

Movie Connections:

References Zaman (1983)

Belgian top thriller with outstanding performances

I was surprised to read several negative comments on this site about "De Zaak Alzheimer". Some people seem to think that the movie wasn't worth the hype, but I disagree with this. I think this is the best Belgian cop thriller ever made. The story (based on the novel of Jef Geeraerts) is brilliantly written and the cast is outstanding. Our best Belgian actors give top performances. Jan Decleir, Koen De Bouw, Werner De Smedt and Jo De Meyere are wonderful.

When I would see an American movie who is similar to "De Zaak Alzheimer", I'd probably give it 8/10. What so special about "De Zaak Alzheimer"? It is a Belgian production, made with a limited budget and a cast and crew who doesn't have that much experience in making cop thrillers in an American style. So I'm convinced the movie is really worth the hype. Also that fact that the movie was nominated and won several awards in other countries, proves Erik Van Looy really made a good impression with his movie. I also heard they're negotiating for an American adaptation of the book, what also proves the value of the movie and the book.

A sequel? No, not a sequel but an adaptation of another book of Jef Geeraerts would be suitable. Erik Van Looy is also planning on doing this, but I read it is possible we will have to wait several years for this adaptation because the expectations will be high and Van Looy of course doesn't want to disappoint the audience.

To conclude my comment I can only repeat the fact that "De Zaak Alzheimer" is a great movie and I can't hardly wait to see the American adaptation (they talked about Morgan Freeman for one of the leading roles) and the next adaptation of a Jef Geeraerts-novel by Erik Van Looy.

9/10