Waltz (2006) User Reviews (2)

Dutch people making a quality show; that doesn't happen very often!

[Ryu_Darkwood · 9/10 · 7 June 2007]

Dutch people can't make fantastic television shows like Six Feet Under or The Sopranos. That's what I thought before watching this marvelous piece of cinema.

Like in both HBO-titles I mentioned, the charm of this show is that its characters aren't particularly nice people. They are all people with a past, with unresolved emotional damage, having wrong expectations of life and that are angry at others for their misfortune. All of their story lines circle around ''pater familias'' Willy Waltz ( Aart Staartjes). After being diagnosed with a tumour in his brain, he must come to terms with the fact that his life is over and that his legacy, the circus with the family name Waltz, will seize to exist in these modern times. His sons, gay in denial ( Theo Maassen ), father of three children, with marital problems ( Barry Atsma ), and the rebellious young one ( Koen Wouterse ), can't fulfill the high expectations of Willy Waltz. They can't seem to cooperate and keep their heads above the water to keep the circus running. And than there is Olga Lippinsky ( Olga Louzgina ), spouse of Willy Waltz, that wants to inherit the circus, totally against the will of the family.

Waltz is full of depressing shots of muddy grass fields, typical Dutch rainy days, a loosely hanging circus tent, dirty environments. It all adds up to the grim story of a man seeing his dreams dying up like snow melts in the sun. Depressing, yes, but if you can cope with that, it's a beautiful story. Not the happiest one, but life isn't all fun and games, so televisions shows also needn't to be all lightness. I also really liked the sadistic humor, like one off the sons pretending to choke in front of a group of children with cancer.

The biggest compliment I must give to Aart Staartjes, for defying his stigma as Sesame street neighbor, by playing in such a grim and mature movie. He is a fantastic actor. I compare his performance to what James Gandolfini did with Tony Soprano; creating a man that is charismatic at the one hand, but nasty, full of rage and simple minded at the same time.

And then one thing that slightly bothered me. The series just contains 7 episodes, and that's a little bit too little to end all of the story lines. There are a few story lines that now feel unfinished. It'd be better if there were at least 12/13 episodes, like in most of the American quality TV-shows.

My final conclusion: If all Dutch television shows would be as good as Waltz, I'd be such a happy person. But in the land of the blind, one-eye is king. And I'm pretty sure that Waltz is that King at the moment!

Grim Circus tales

[Chip_douglas · 7/10 · 4 January 2007]

Dutch drama series most notable for giving Aart Staartjes, best known as a children's entertainer, a serious, meaty part at the age of 67. As Willy Waltz, the stubborn and sickly head of a circus family, he dominates the show and his 'family' therein, all of whom of course take part in the circus show. His three sons Bruno, Felix and Enrico form an acrobat act, his Russian girlfriend Olga Lyppinsky (Olga Louzgina) is one half of a magic act, even his ex wife and mother to his boys (Astrid van Eck) still travels along and sells tickets. When Willy finds out he is seriously ill, he tries to hide it from his sons and starts planning a festive anniversary program. The problem is that he is unsure which one of his boys is best suited to follow in his footsteps and lead Circus Waltz. Bruno (Theo Maassen) still hasn't found a wife (viewers soon find out he's not interested in women) Felix (Barry Atsma), has tree children, but seems unable to make any decisions without help from his wife and Enrico (Koen Wouterse) is a headstrong buffoon (no wonder he also works as a clown).

A combined production from VARA and VPRO television, Waltz is typically grim and depressing. Nothing ever work out for any of the characters, instead, they usually end up fighting each other in the mud before making up in their cramped campers. Most of the action seems to take place at night and/or in the pouring rain. Even the music brings you down. Writer Robert Alberdingk Thijm seems to be under the impression that for drama to work, you must get rid of anything funny. Granted, Enrico's misadventures with fellow clown Spartacus occasionally amuse, but even this sub plot is mostly filled with misery and stubborn misunderstandings.

Critically received because of the obvious amount of talented people involved, the series was released on DVD even before every episode had been broadcast, with advertisements running after the last few installment proclaiming 'laughter, drama and unbelievable thrills'. That's a hoot. Anyone watching the series could tell these advertisers there was precious little to laugh at and nothing thrilling at all. Just non stop misery and sorrow for circus Waltz. After all, it is clear from the very first minutes of the first episode that Willy is fighting a battle he cannot possibly win.

7 out of 10