Antonia (1995)

Director:

Marleen Gorris

Writer:

Marleen Gorris (writer)

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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:

Dutch | Village | Absent Father | Baby | Angel Statue With Moving Wings

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

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

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R16 | 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:

Danielle: Mama, I want a baby.
Antonia: How about a husband to go with it?
Danielle: No.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

My Blue Heaven

A Story Well-Told

For the intelligent and reflective movie-goer, there is much to appreciate about this film. To begin with, the opening narration, although fantastic, is just about the best opening line to any story out there. It immediately draws one into the world of these weird, wonderful people. And that fantastic aspect is maintained throughout the film, like a fairy tale that provides a surprise around every corner. It is a pleasure to be taken into this kind of world for the 100+ minutes of the film.

I strongly disagree with the comments, which the IMDb is currently (as of March 13/04) displaying as being "representative," which states:

"If you hold dear the innocence of children, respect God and those who serve Him, and hold dear what is beautiful in a spiritual sense, you will probably dislike this film."

That's one seriously narrow-minded opinion the IMDb people have selected as being representative. There was a time when the IMDb was more discriminating in what they allowed through to the site. That they allowed *this* posting through *and* chose it to represent the average response to the film is bad a sign; the ship is sailing but there's nobody at the wheel. Reading those comments, one could easily conclude that there are a great deal of sadly unimaginative people out there who just don't get this film.

It isn't surprising that someone with the kind of insular view of the world as expressed in those "representative" comments wouldn't enjoy this film. I never thought of it this way, but I suppose "Antonia's Line" is not for the polite, ultra-conservative, easily-offendable religious folks out there who, it seems, are more apt to feel threatened by fantastic stories like this than to appreciate them for what they are. "Antonia's Line" is the kind of story that give us permission to *imagine* how things might be if they were just slightly eschew. This film is not a picture of the real world, but, like a good fairy tale, provides one an opportunity to reflect on a variety of human conditions and experiences that everyone in some way can relate to.

In this regard, "Antonia's Line" is a wonderfully rich and rewarding film, and a beautifully well-told story.

It should not be dismissed so easily. (And the IMDb ought to get their act together.)