Familieweekend (Blu-ray) – Movie Review
Family is one of the biggest aspects in our lives and although it can be hard to live together, you can count on each other. In the end, family members stick together and try to make the best out of it. Family events might be one of those moments that can be really fun or disastrous. In ‘Familieweekend’, we’re following a gathering that should be fun but might turn out otherwise.
We’re invited into the family of Pieter Severijn (Derek de Lint). He sends his three children an invitation to spend a special weekend in the manor. It seems that he wants to make amends after his heart attack, as he realises that he neglected his duties as father. Roderick (Dirk Zeelenberg), the eldest of the offspring, is a busy businessman that tries to combine his family with his work, while the youngest son, Benjamin (Tim Haars), is following his artistic sense with the help from some narcotics. Their sister Fleur (Jelka Van Houten) on the other hand is searching for her inner self and wants to live a materialize-free life. The three of them aren’t so thrilled with the invitation but their money-driven reasons persuade them to go as they hope that their father will split the inheritance.
On their arrival, Pieter is so glad to have his three children close to him. Also, Frederique (Sanne Langelaar) has taken the place of her father as butler and is happy to serve them. Everything is going smoothly until they discover the reason of the invitation. It seems that their father is getting married and that the wedding is taking place during that weekend. Roderick doesn’t really like this idea and tries to find something against his new mother-in-law, together with his siblings. Is Bonnie (Jennifer Hoffman) really in love with their father?
The majority of this movie takes place in one weekend, which means that the events follow up fast. At the start of the movie, you get a small introduction of each character, making it easier to immerse in the story and understanding why they react in certain ways. In the end, don’t expect a profound narrative. What can be said, is that you probably think you’ll know what will happen next but there are some plot twists now and then that will make you reconsider. The producer used just the right amount of time to put everything in order so that it doesn’t feel too chaotic.
Considering the acting, everyone plays their role really well and you probably can sympathize with some of the characters. Jelka Van Houten plays her character as newborn medium very well, while Dirk Zeelenberg stays in his role as a hard-working but paranoiac father that wants to protect his family while getting a grain from the heritance. There are some stereotypes exploited too, but it fits the story quite well.
As this is a Dutch movie, it is possible to add English subtitles which makes it accessible for a broader target group. In the end, this is all of extra possibilities that the DVD or Blu-Ray has to offer. It would have been nice if there were some extra content, like bloopers for example or some insights regarding the idea or story. The movie itself is worth to watch, but it feels like something is missing.
Conclusion
If you want to see what can happen during a rollercoaster family weekend with some laughter and more emotional moments, then ‘Familieweekend’ is something to put on your watch list. Go on a trip with the Severijn family and discover if the love of Pieter and Bonnie is true. It is a fun aspect that the movie can have English subtitles, making it possible that everyone can enjoy the movie. Let’s go on a trip to the mansion and find out what is really going on.
Familieweekend (Blu-ray) - Movie Review,
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