The inspiration is Richard Curtis' Love Actually, filtered through a blockbusting Dutch film from 2007 called Alles is liefde (Love is All). Set in Amsterdam, that film revolved around Sinterklaas' annual return to the city by boat after passing the summer in Spain. Once on land, he rewards good children, while his blacked-up assistant Zwarte Piet punishes the bad.
Antwerp has the same Sinterklaas tradition, so it was a natural choice for a remake. If that sounds odd, given a Dutch original, remember that Flanders loves its local celebrities; packing the film with familiar faces makes all the difference.
Zot van A begins with preparations for Sinterk- laas' entry into Antwerp. When the actor playing the saint has a heart attack, hitchhiker Jan (Michel Van Dousselaere) is drafted as a replacement. No-one notices that this bearded old gent has just arrived from Spain in a truck full of oranges. Ripples begin to spread. The actor's death reunites his daughter Anna (Veerle Baetens) with estranged husband Bruno (Koen de Graeve), while a chance encounter when Sinterklaas lands spells romance for shop assistant Astrid and tennis star Paul (Lotte Heijtenis, Kevin Janssens). Further mishaps sow mistrust for Arno and Lydia (Mathias Sercu, Barbara Sarafian) and doubts for soon-to-be married Alain and Fred (Jan Van Looveren, Mathijs Scheepers). And that's just the beginning.
Verheyen is an effective director, so when he promises us Antwerp Actually, that is what we get. It's funny and charming, but ultimately a bit derivative. In-jokes such as pin-up Janssens playing a love-struck mega-celeb will make up for this with Flemish audiences, while outsiders will appreciate Sinterklaas explaining his methods to a passing African-American. "I don't punish the bad children," he says in halting English. "Black people do that. They are my slaves." (Yes, Flanders, this is weird to us!)
Otherwise my favourite strand involves predatory 18-year-old Lucas (Matteo Simoni), who strikes out with TV producer Annette (Joke Devynck) before trying his luck with Anna at her father's funeral. It may only be October, but this gets my vote for Movie Seduction of the Year.
Flanders Today is a 
12°C / 25°C
