A DAY AT THE BEACH

A DAY AT THE BEACH (EEN DAGJE NAAR HET STRAND), 1984
The Netherlands | Color, 85’ | Dutch
Director: Theo van Gogh
Cast: Cas Enklaar, Tara Fallaux, Helen Hedy

Adapted from Heere Heeresma's best-selling 1962 novel of the same name, this film is about an alcoholic father who is insistent in taking his daughter to the beach in Scheveningen on a rainy day. The two encounter all kinds of strange people during their time in the coastal town. In 1970, Heeresma's novel was scripted by Roman Polanski and adapted for a film in the United Kingdom. Director Van Gogh shot this second film, which has rarely been seen, using his friends as actors on the beach of Scheveningen – also featured in the short film included in the selection. This story of an alcoholic father who wants to reconnect with his daughter but fails to do so displays a mild melancholy and bizarre dialogues from 1980s.