Punk Lawyer

(ADVOCAAT VAN DE HANEN) ((DUTCH))

By DEREK ELLEY

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A Concorde Film release (in the Netherlands) of a Sigma Pictures production, in association with Vara. Produced by Matthijs van Heijningen. Directed by Gerrit van Elst. Screenplay, Kitty Verrips, Van Elst, from the novel of the same name in A.F. Th. van der Heijden's cycle "De tandeloze tijd."
 

Ernst Quispel Pierre Bokma Swanny Margo Dames Frank Jaap Spijkers Quispel Sr. Peter Oosthoek Francine Daniella Remmers

A watchable central perf by legit actor Pierre Bokma is the best thing about "Punk Lawyer," a potentially interesting study of an alcoholic advocate's crisis of conscience. Unfocused scripting and static direction are the main culprits preventing this Dutch pic's wider parole.

It's the mid-'80s, and slick lawyer Ernst Quispel (Bokma) has everything going for him except a barely contained drinking habit. During one bender, he's arrested along with some skinheads who've been violently evicted by the police from a squat, and is the sole witness to a cover-up by the cops when one of them mysteriously dies in custody.

At home, Ernst's marriage to his ambitious wife, Swanny (Margo Dames), has hit the sexual reefs, and his establishment father (Peter Oosthoek) is pressuring him to join the family law firm. When the dead punk's parents demand an inquiry, Ernst procrastinates over whether to support them with his testimony or continue his slide into non-engagement.

There are about three separate movies going on here, and director Gerrit van Elst can't seem to make up his mind which to pursue in detail.

Dutch actor Bokma, better known at home for Shakespeare than the screen, does his best to unite the various strands in a performance that's half boyish charm, half black comedy. In the humorless role of the wife, Dames is largely left stranded, a victim of the movie's lack of dramatic pulse, not helped any by the paucity of music throughout. Tech credits otherwise are pro.

Shooting was disrupted by modern-day punks, who forced producer Matthijs van Heijningen to put an elaborate disclaimer at the end, stating the pic is not based on the real-life case of Hans Kok. The attendant publicity didn't prevent the movie from flopping on local release.

Camera (color), Lex Wertwijn; editor, Mario Steenbergen; music, Paul M. van Brugge; production design, Vincent de Pater; art direction, Wilma Schuemie; sound, Viktor Dekker, Paul Gries; assistant director, Jaier Weissman. Reviewed at Dutch Film Festival (Holland Film Meeting) (competing), Utrecht, Sept. 30, 1996. Running time: 107 MIN.