Dutch vet helmer Alex Van Warmerdam’s daring psychological thriller “Borgman” has been tapped to represent The Netherlands in the Oscar’s foreign-language race.”Borgman,” penned by Alex van Warmerdam and produced by Marc van Warmerdam of Graniet Film, world-preemed in Competition at Cannes and earned critical praises. Pic, which marks the director’s eighth feature, is reportedly the first Dutch film to play in competition in 38 years.
“If Michael Haneke had a slightly less ironic appreciation of the term ‘funny games,’ he might have cooked up something a little like “Borgman” a sly, insidious and intermittently hilarious domestic thriller,” Variety’s Guy Lodge wrote in his review.
Pic toplines Hadewych Minis, Jan Bijvoet and Jeroen Perceval.
Fortissimo Films, which represents “Borgman” in international markets, has sold it to dozens of territories. Drafthouse Films will release the pic in U.S. theaters next year. Cineart gave it a big bow across the Netherlands on August 28.
Oscar noms will be unveiled on Jan.16.