MovieChat Forums > Waltz Discussion > why does it always have to be so depress...

why does it always have to be so depressing?

posted 17 years ago by Weary76
7 replies | jump to latest

I've watched the pilot yesterday, I was very curious about this new Dutch television drama about a travelling circus family.
The creator/writer Robert Alberdink Thijm is an experienced screenplay writer.

But I was dissapointed. It starts very depressing, and it stays that way. It makes not want to watch it. But I endured, and it stayed depressing most of the time.
Also, the characters are very unsympathetic. This is how it usually goes in Dutch drama. First you see how irritating they can be, and later things happen that are supposed to make you feel for them.
Well, I don't.
To me, there wasn't much of a plot either. A lot of time was filled with long shots of the Dutch landscape, or just people doing nothing interesting. No matter how small a dramatic scene is, just that one little detail makes it beautiful. I didn't see any of that in the pilot, just the basic stuff.

The show got rave reviews before it ever aired, and I'm starting to think it was a hype to get good ratings.
I'm going to watch the next episode, and if it's not too depressing, I might even watch the one after that. But if it remains to be like it is now, I'm done.

[–] onderstekop 17 years ago

I can't believe you said that, in my opinion Waltz has been the best Dutch drama since years. Well-written, well-played, well-filmed.

Sure, it can be depressing at some times, but what did you expect? It's DRAMA

[–] Weary76 17 years ago

Drama is depressing?
Yep, we definitly have a different opinion. I've seen enought drama that touched me instead of depress me. No matter how bad things got.
In the end I never saw another episode than the pilot, I wasn't motivated to see the rest of it.
As for well filmed, it was mostly (or I think, all of it) hand held camera. Nothing special about that, it's usually done in The Netherlands.

[–] onderstekop 17 years ago

Well, I must admit that the series doesn't really end on a optimistic note, but it's really worth watching. Although it might be depressing at some points it was also funny, provoking and interesting to watch. And the acting was (in most cases) sublime! That's not how it's usually done in The Netherlands.

[–] Deweb 17 years ago

It's not a drama, drama but a drama as in "the end of an circus". And that's what we see: A circus falling down trough financial problems and the dominating person of Willy Waltz.
It gives the circus more problems when he's sick and that's where we step in as watchers: On the moment that the big bom is definitly starting to explode. Like we say in dutch: De druppel die de emmer doet overlopen.

[–] Stefkin 17 years ago

Oh my, heaven forbid it is not entertaining enough for our joy-hungry eyes to see. Perhaps we should make a dutch equivalent of "Friends" as to satisfy your undoubtedly high and well-founded television standards.

Sorry for my cynicism, but since when does a television show or movie or any work for that matter have to avoid being 'depressing' at all cost? I love the grim atmosphere, the gritty tone of this. It reminds me what life is like for many of us, and how they manage to survive anyhow.

Aart Staartjes' wide smile, the short moments of happiness for all characters, and the dark humor make it (at least for me) believable that these people could endure such gloominess. So should you. It is well worth it.

[–] Weary76 17 years ago

Crealist, if you're sorry you're being cynical, then don't be it.
I have no problem with depressing situations. But when the characters in them are being nasty folk most of the time, I really don't care. Why should I? Do you have pity for an ass*beep* who's complaining about financial problems?

I just finished a book (part 2 of a trilogy) which ends deeply depressive. But I care, because the main character has a good heart. A good person in a bad situation.

A Dutch version of "Friends"? A good sit-com with a live audience as good as a mediocre American one has yet to be made here. So I would welcome it.

[–] Stefkin 16 years ago

I take back the 'sorry' part and enjoy my cynicism fully in retrospect. After all, it is the only thing keeping me from becoming saddened by great stories not being appreciated.

Let me try to further explain my point. The standard (mostly American) formula to introduce a main character (or main characters) to the audience is by making them obviously likeable. Show them saving a cat out of a tree, helping out a friend... That way, all of us can slip right into self-identification-mode since we apparently like to believe we are good and wholesome folk, and be entertained by the many adventures our hero embarks on.

Then there is the story that requires you to make an effort to understand the character. To see the vulnerability that is really at the basis of Willy Waltz's behaviour. After all, he knows the demise of his (and his father's) dream is inevitable by the way things are going, and is desperately clinging onto what is still left of it.

Frankly, the man reminded me of my grandfather, who knew he was losing more and more ground to Alzheimer's Disease, yet tried to maintain independent for as long as he could.

In this respect, the characters in "Waltz", though perhaps somewhat gloomy, have great depth and are well-rounded and recognizable. This makes them for me much more "real" than any other likeable action movie hero who, let's say, risks his own life to save the puppy from the big ball of fire that is about to crush the city.

And that, my friend, is what makes it a much more personal experience.

PS: As for your point about Dutch sitcoms: No argument there.