06/05 (2004)

Director:

Theo van Gogh

Writers:

Theo van Gogh (dialogue)
Tomas Ross (dialogue & scenario)

Release Date:

23 February 2005 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A fictional version of the events that led to the assassination of the Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn on May 6, 2002. The movie is based upon the book "The sixth of May" by Tomas Ross.

Plot Keywords:

Archive Footage | Beach | Cell Phone | Colleague | Daughter

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Thijs Römer	...	Jim de Booy
Tara Elders	...	Ayse Him
Cahit Ölmez	...	Erdogan Demir
Jack Wouterse	...	Van Dam
Johnny de Mol	...	Redacteur NRC, John
Caro Lenssen	...	Marije de Booy
Marcel Hensema	...	Wester
Gijs Naber	...	Wouter Heemskerk
Marlies Heuer	...	Thera
Georgina Verbaan	...	Birgit Maas
Ariane Schluter	...	Ex Jim
Tooske Breugem	...	Grondstewardess
Peer Mascini	...	Buurman
Marijke Veugelers	...	Buurvrouw
Reinout Bussemaker	...	Volkert van der G
Kristen Denkers	...	Assistent Wester
Michel Sluysmans	...	Verzekeringsman
Femke Lakerveld	...	Lisa
Maria Kraakman	...	Petra
Ira Goldwasser	...	Man in vergadering
John Pope	...	Man in vergadering
Krijn ter Braak	...	Man in vergadering
Jochum ten Haaf	...	Man in vergadering
Gijs van de Westelaken	...	Man in vergadering
Fouad Mourigh	...	Hamid
Cees Geel	...	Politie-agent
Farhane El Hamchaoui	...	Ali
Steve Hooi	...	Ronald
Mohammed El Hamchaoui	...	Abou
Urmie Plein	...	Receptioniste
Mike Reus	...	Man in Dudok
Tijn Docter	...	Man in Dudok
Martijn Nieuwerf	...	Automobilist
Kim Kok	...	Sabientje
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dave Abspoel	...	Himself (archive footage)
Alix Adams	...	Vrouw in Dudok
Jan Peter Balkenende	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ad Melkert	...	Himself (archive footage)
Dominique van der Heyde	...	Herself (archive footage)
Simon Zwiers	...	Redacteur
Thom de Graaf	...	Himself (uncredited) (archive footage)
Pim Fortuyn	...	Himself (uncredited) (archive footage)
Wim Kok	...	Himself (uncredited) (archive footage)
Paul Rosenmöller	...	Himself (uncredited) (archive footage)
Marcel van Dam	...	Himself (uncredited) (archive footage)

Directed by
Theo van Gogh

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Theo van Gogh		dialogue
Tomas Ross		dialogue & scenario

Produced by
Gijs van de Westelaken	....	producer

Original Music by
Rainer Hensel

Cinematography by
Alex de Waal
Joost van Herwijnen
Thomas Kist

Film Editing by
Merel Notten

Casting by
Job Gosschalk
Marc van Bree

Art Direction by
Jan Rutgers

Costume Design by
Jacqueline Steylen

Production Management
Ellen Havenith	....	assistant production manager
Judith Schuitert	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gijs Determeijer	....	second assistant director
Doesjka van Hoogdalem	....	assistant director
Milo Rietvelt	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Taco Regtien	....	set dresser
Michel Rozestraten	....	props

Sound Department
Victor Dekker	....	boom operator
Sophie Determeyer	....	sound recordist
Leo Franssen	....	sound
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: Dolby film sound (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Arjen Abbestee	....	visual effects

Editorial Department
Alexandra Keddeman	....	post-production

Music Department
Gabriel Ríos	....	composer: song "Broad Daylight"

Other crew
Ellen Havenith	....	assistant to production manager
Peter Hermans	....	assistant location manager
Martijn Overing	....	assistant catering
Menno Slot	....	assistant location manager
Reinier Smit	....	production assistant

Thanks
Theodor Holman	....	special thanks
Hans Teeuwen	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Column Productions
• Tiscali

Distributors

• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• High Point Film and Television (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Inspire Pictures (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Koch Lorber Films (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Wysiwyg Films (2007) (worldwide) (video)

Also Known As:

06/05: The Sixth of May (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Netherlands:117 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Column Productions

Trivia:

Marcel van Dam, a well-known Dutch TV personality, made an unsuccessful attempt to have his presence removed from the movie before the premiere. The movie uses an excerpt from a discussion program in which he calls Pim Fortuyn "an inferior human being" in his face.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jim's daughter is 16 years old and we are told that Jim was 17 when she was born, so Jim cannot be older than 32 or 33. But the APB on him (on the computer) states that Jim is 35.

Movie Connections:

Remade as 1-900 (2009)

Soundtrack:

Let me down easy

The Triumph Of The Politically Correct Is Anarchy

First off, let's all admit that this film would probably never had a chance to see a production budget of any kind before September 11th, 2001. Secondly, two of the main characters are westernized Muslims and in the film they drink alcohol, have a sexual affair, and wear regular clothes ( no hijab for the female character ). What all of that means, exactly, is something of a mystery to me.

Third, the story-telling in this film is far better than some of the other comments might indicate. Given that the fine DVD presentation requires the viewer to read subtitles for the parts given in other languages, which is about 98 per cent of the film, it all works real well. In my less-than-humble opinion, of course.

Apparently the Dutch secret service or spy agency does not believe in or perhaps does not need warrants to break into the homes of private citizens, and is not averse to random acts of vandalism, as well.

So, yes, the story is convoluted and to see this film without some basic back-grounding on the politics involved makes it a daunting task. On the other side, the principal actors mostly do a very fine job in their characterizations of real persons. The fact that the film ends without giving the viewer any kind of "in the face" explanation of who really killed the Dutch politician, Pym, does not make the story in any way irrelevant. Nor can any sensible person find anything racist in this intriguing drama. On the contrary, the Netherlands is presented as being a most tolerant place where natives and second-generation immigrants live next to each other and work together quite well.

It's a spy story and a murder story, after all, and it does provoke the viewer to ask ... who really wanted that fellow Pym to be killed ? The colorful, controversial life of Theo van Gogh, who was in life so very central to the creation of this film, is NOT the subject here.

The pacing and the direction were really rather good, and it is not a "slow-paced" film, but it is telling a rather convoluted story. Leading lady Tara Elders does a remarkable turn in a tough role, too, as the Muslim immigrant with a checkered past.

For my dollar two ninety-five, it was worth renting and worth viewing twice. The second time around the intrigue was much easier to grasp.

It is necessary to know something about the recent history of the Netherlands to get the full value of this production.