Alex (Fedja van Huêt) is a photographer living in Amsterdam. He struggles with sleep and his finances. Chronic insomnia makes it difficult for him to keep track of reality, causing some surreal situations. One begins at the film’s beginning when he drops off a friend, and an unknown woman simply appears in his car. Sandra (Carice van Houten) expresses a romantic interest in the photographer and joins him on an overnight trip to his familial home.
Having received a frightening message from his mother (Sacha Bulthuis) that his twin brother, Aram (Fedja van Huêt), isn’t allowing her to receive medical care, the young man drives through the night despite having already been awake for a few days. He arrives at the family home that has become a sprawling junkyard since his last visit. Meanwhile, Aram and his friend, Wouter (Theo Maassen), attempt a robbery. When things go wrong, they retreat on foot to Aram’s family home to lay low and take care of Wouter’s gunshot wound.
This Dutch psychological thriller reaches some brutal heights. A modern take on Cain and Abel, the twins are opposed in nearly every aspect. Aram is calculating and cruel, but Alex is meek and aimless. They share a dark secret that affects their whole family. Every character has some quirk: Alex is an insomniac, Sandra is a pyromaniac, Aram never wears shoes, and the twin’s mother refuses to stop drinking even though it is causing her medical distress. These elements, surreal acting, psychological characterization, and bold use of color create a fascinating and surprisingly deep thriller.
Those who enjoy the darker Coen Brothers films (No Country for Old Men, Fargo) and Quentin Tarantino’s early work will especially enjoy AmnesiA. It is bloodsoaked and isolated, giving the viewer thrill after thrill as this bizarre and violent story unfolds. Lust and lies lead to an inevitable conclusion: Kill or be killed. This surprisingly Faulkner-esque story is a perfect choice for international film collections. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
AmnesiA would be a perfect fit alongside cerebral late 90s films like Seven, The Matrix, or Memento.
What kind of film series could this title be used for?
AmnesiA would be an excellent selection for a multi-national thriller series.