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Synopsis
For the first time Jos Stelling used a book as a starting point for a new film: De Wisselwachter by Jean-Paul Franssens. The story is about a man who lives at a desolate train station, far away from the big city and who has little to do besides keeping an eye on the points and who is sometimes visited by the postman. Then a woman, accidently, gets of the train. She spends a whole year on the pointsman’s lonely island of life, which leads to all kinds of strange developments.
Background
In order to show the passage of the seasons, the shooting took place in a remote area in Scotland and was spread out over the four seasons. Jim van der Woude, who had attracted attention in The Illusionist, plays the pointsman and is one of the strengths of the film, which is regarded by many as Stelling’s best.
In any case, the Pointsman confirmed his reputation abroad, especially after being selected for the competition at the Venice festival. It mostly got a good reception there and received an honourable mention. Added to that was the audience award in São Paolo. It received the same award at the Madrid festival and the Portuguese festival Fantasporto, where Jim van der Woude was declared Best Actor. Recognition from everywhere, except, once again, in Holland, where, despite mostly laudatory reviews and a Golden Calf at the Dutch Film Festival, the audience showed little interest.
‘De Wisselwachter’ in the New York Times:
“Accidentally stepping off a train in some Godforsaken whistle stop, a worldly, elegantly dressed Frenchwoman (Stéphanie Excoffier) finds shelter in the cabin of a lonely Dutch pointsman (Jim van der Woude), whose life consists mainly of his work, daily housekeeping, and sleep. Using gestures, facial expression, color contrast, and virtually no dialogue (the characters speak two different languages, anyway), director Jos Stelling builds his film on the opposition between virginal pointsman’s emotional aloofness and the blatant, provocative eroticism of his guest, which eventually makes her hostage of his passion. This is an artistic film that will likely appeal primarily to movie buffs. – Yuri German, All Movie Guide
‘De Wisselwachter’ on the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com):
“Movies like these are the reason I don’t like Hollywood movies. All Stelling’s movies are simply brilliant. (…) De Wisselwachter is quiet, with almost no dialogue. At the same time it’s very funny and full of surprises. You don’t have to think and be cluttered up with thousands of words that explain everything. You just sit and feel the atmosphere and emotions. Wonderfull!!!”
Cast
The Pointsman Jim van der Woude
The Woman Stéphane Excoffier
The Train Driver John Kraaykamp
The Postman Josse de Pauw
The Assistant Driver Ton van Dort
Crew
Director Jos Stelling
Script George Brugmans, Hans de Wolf, Jos Stelling
First Assistant Niek Koppen
Director of Photography Frans Bromet, Theo van de Sande, Paul van den Bos, Goert Giltay
Production Designer Gert Brinkers
Sound Bert Flantua
Editor Rimko Haanstra
Music Michel Mulders
Executive Producer Stanley Hillebrandt
Awards
Golden Calf Jury Award, Dutch Film Festival, 1986
Golden Calf Best Actor, John Kraaykamp, Dutch Film Festival, 1986
Audience Award at the Film Festival Fantasporto, 1988
Best Actor, Jim van der Woude, Film Festival Fantasporto, 1988
Silver Raven, Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film
Audience Award, São Paulo International Film Festival (Brazil), 1986
Mention of Honour, International Film Festival Venice, 1986
Silver Desk Best Music Score, Michel Mulder, 1987
Special Jury Award, VIII Festival Madrid, 1987
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