‘Nr. 10’ Review: A Common Story That Dares to Be So Much More
Originality is one of the most elusive elements in any work of art. At this point, everything seems to have been done, and artists struggle each day to do something that feels meaningful but also fresh. Audiences value novelty a lot; sometimes they value it more than anything else in a piece of work, which is, of course, its own separate issue. So, with that struggle in mind, it is always nice to see a movie, a book, or a game that manages to be original even when using pieces that have been used many times before. Nr. 10 becomes one of the most original movies I’ve seen this year.
The movie is directed by Alex van Warmerdam and stars Tom Dewispelaere, Pierre Bokma, Frieda Barnhard, Anniek Pheifer, and Hans Kesting. The film tells the story of an actor named Günther, who sees himself involved in a relationship with a married woman, the wife of his director, at the new play they are putting together. However, his tumultuous love life becomes just a minor hiccup when things start to become quite strange somewhere else, and he might discover truths about himself he never thought possible.
Warmerdam’s work has always been permeated by this layer of surrealism that sometimes can be quite aggressive as well as incredibly subtle. In this opportunity, the director chooses to go full in on both extremes, and the result is a movie that not only feels quite humble and gentle but also quite wild as things start developing beyond the first act. Each new development comes across as a surprise, and many members of the audience will debate with themselves about what is happening on screen until the very end of the movie.
The movie is a great example of how to create intrigue in the audience without ever trying to deceive them in any way. Just a couple of days ago, I was talking with a friend of mine about Netflix’s show Dark. This series also puts a lot of effort into creating intrigue and mystery within its storyline, but when the moment to resolve those plot lines came about, the series basically gave up and decided to go on a different route. Nr. 10 on the other hand decides to fulfill the promises it did early in this runtime and goes full swing on the audience.
Many members of the audience will accept this wild swing in terms of storytelling, while others do not, but what is true is that the movie never really fails in achieving what it sets itself to do. The revelations that come late in the film are both outrageous, basic, and hilarious. By themselves, they are not really that original; we have seen these elements being worked into movies many times before. However, the way Warmerdam and his team manage to transition to this part of the story feels quite flawless.
The acting is great. Dewispeleare creates in Günther, a character that is hard to like at first, but as the story moves forward, and we start learning more and more about his life, he becomes relatable even in the worst of his idiosyncrasies. The same goes for the rest of the cast. These are normal people trying to live their lives; none of them are perfect, far from it, but they are all quite interesting in the same way real people are. When this mundane part of the story is interrupted, it feels like something like that could really happen to any of us.
In visual terms, the film feels quite subdued. The cinematography by Tom Erisman, who has already worked with Warmerdam on several of his films, has this very mellow quality that enhances the feeling that we are seeing nothing out of the ordinary, at first. This quality then continues in this same line and makes the wildest developments still feel like part of the universe that the film presents. Again, the movie looks just like any other out there, especially coming from this particular European region, but it is all part of the trick.
It all boils down to the fact that there are no bad ideas, only bad executions. Nr. 10 mixes two things that don’t seem particularly connected, and many people would just feel quite perplexed at hearing what the movie is about before seeing it. Nevertheless, once all the pieces are together, and you are actually watching the movie, the story, and the characters will grab you until the fantastic ending hits you in the face, and it all feels just right. No movie is for everyone, but this big swing will definitely work wonders with those who truly appreciate it.
In the end, Nr. 10 is one of the most original and fascinating films of the year. It goes between the intriguing, the comedic, and the dramatic, in the blink of an eye, but it all works and feels like a cohesive whole, something many big movies have been failing at lately. Warmerdam continues his fascinating career as a filmmaker, and we hope we can get more original tales like this one in the future.
SCORE: 9/10