CAN GO THROUGH SKIN

KAN DOOR HUID HEEN

By Esther ROTS

OAK MOTION PICTURES (F.K.A. NFI) - as PROD

Drama - Completed 2009

The film shows the development of a woman, ever since the moment she is violently assaulted. By starting all over, she thinks she can put everything aside and go on with her life, but that doesn't seem to be entirely true

    • Year of production
    • 2009
    • Genres
    • Drama
    • Countries
    • NETHERLANDS
    • Languages
    • DUTCH
    • Budget
    • 1 - 3 M$
    • Duration
    • 93 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Esther ROTS
    • Writer(s)
    • Esther ROTS
    • Producer(s)
    • TRENT (NFI Productions), Hugo ROTS (rots filmwerk), Esther ROTS (rots filmwerk)
    • Synopsis
    • The life of Marieke is transformed by an act of violence. She decides to escape from her hometown and buys a remote and derelict cottage in the Zeeland countryside. By making a new start, she hopes to be able to shake off the violent experience, but the cold and loneliness only add to her feelings of fear and vengeance. With the arrival of summer and a new love, Marieke seems to be regaining strength. But slowly, she loses this grip on her life.
      Marieke is a cheerful and carefree woman in her early thirties living the fast life in Amsterdam. Until her boyfriend suddenly leaves her. She wallows in her grief, rings up friends, and in a drunken daze acts as if everything is fine. Then, a pizza delivery-boy breaks into her house and assaults her. A friend comes to her aid, and they escape in a panic.
      A few weeks later, Marieke impulsively buys a remote and derelict cottage in the Zeeland countryside. In these new surroundings, she thinks she will be able to shake off her painful experiences. She embarks upon renovating her new house, hoping it will take her mind off things but she feels choked by the wide-open winter environment. She doesn’t feel safe in her new home, and regards the friendly and helpful villager John as an intruder. Then when the pizza delivery-boy's verdict turns out to be very mild, she becomes frustrated and filled with vindictiveness.
      Through Internet chat rooms she meets fellow victims who, like her, are willing to take matters into their own hands. She rises above being the victim and in this process slowly learns to control her fears.
      At the onset of summer Marieke seems to be returning to her former self. Her joint quest for justice with her fellow victims empowers her. She adds fresh energy to the renovation and becomes more aware of nature blooming around her. She even starts a relationship with John, gets pregnant and claims to look forward to having a baby. But without realising it, she loses control of her life.
    • Partners & financing
    • Netherlands Film Fund, NPS Television, CoBO Fund, Rotterdam Media Fund, Benelux Film Distributors, Rots Filmwerk, NFI PRODUCTIONS