Lucia de B. (2014)
Genre: Biography / Drama
Duration: 97 minuten
Country:
Netherlands / Sweden
Directed by: Paula van der Oest
Stars: Sallie Harmsen, Ariane Schluter and Barry Atsma
IMDb score:
7,0 (4.484)
Releasedate: 3 April 2014
Lucia de B. plot
"Guilty Until Proven Innocent"
The ambitious public prosecutor Judith tries at all costs to get the serial killer Lucia de B. under lock and key. When this is successful, Judith receives clues that show that Lucia is innocent. Can she turn the tide and free Lucia?
Actors and actresses
Lucia de Berk
Judith Jansen
Ernestine Johansson
Quirijn Herzberg
Jaap van Hoensbroeck
Cellmate Jenny
Detective Ron Leeflang
Peter
Detective Henk Bos
Fabienne
Reviews & comments
Donkerwoud
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- 8696 messages
- 3961 votes
For an intended critique of the harmful consequences of image formation on the judiciary, this film adaptation by Lucia de B. also manages to do a lot of mood shaping. The judiciary is unilaterally portrayed as an organized group of angry bogeymen that continue to kick a more than innocent suspect. Involved counselors and the hospital management are being dragged through the mud by showing their hypocrisy and selfishness nicely.
Extra cinematic effect is sentimentally enforced with a tearful soundtrack and extremely evocative light and dark filters. As a viewing audience, we will know that the charade surrounding the ex-nurse has led to one of the bigger miscarriages of justice in the last few years. In doing so, it delicately responds to over-simplified views that a significant part of the people of the Fatherland already have about the rule of law.
The only bright spot in this dark production is Ariane Schluter's fantastic portrayal as the flat nurse from The Hague, who faces her trial with a mixture of disbelief and pent-up anger. Perhaps the director had chosen better to stick to Lucia de B. herself, but with less populist social criticism in order to further reduce a complicated criminal case to a simplification of good and evil.
Translated from Dutch · View original
IH88
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- 9762 messages
- 3190 votes
Lucia de B.
Lucia de B. is an expertly crafted courtroom drama that shows the effect miscarriage of justice and mass hysteria can have on one person. It is sometimes a bit too solid, and director Paula van der Oest opts for a pragmatic and distant approach with as little emotion as possible. It's not really disturbing, also because of Schluter's phenomenal acting. I have followed this case with interest for my studies, and the legal part itself is well illustrated. The most important pieces of evidence (link proof, dioxin proof) why Lucia de B. is convicted are in it.
What I missed was the role of the media, because the media attention and mass hysteria were important points when it comes to the life sentence. It is also a pity that Van Der Oest chooses a very exaggerated good guy vs. bad guy story, because as so often it is not so easy in real life. Judith Jansen's role as a moral compass doesn't come across well either, and the character sometimes feels more like a plot tool than a real-life character. Lucia de B. is clearly at its strongest as soon as the story focuses on Lucia de B, and Schluter is allowed to show her skills.
Translated from Dutch · View original
filmkul
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- 2515 messages
- 2274 votes
Strong Dutch drama. The story is well known and, with some made-up pieces, is well elaborated by Van der Oest. The build-up is good and the hospital scene with the baby in the beginning is quite choppy. The drama that follows is captivating until the very end. The disappointment is palpable to the viewer. The acting is otherwise okay. Great movie. 4.0
Translated from Dutch · View original
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