For those who remember Marleen Gorris, the grim militant of the 80s, her new film is a pleasant surprise. This time she delivers her message with a smile, creating a microcosmos of women who know exactly how to put men in their right place.

Antonia's Line, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film earlier this year, covers half a century and focuses on a dynasty of five strong women, starting with Antonia, who comes back to her native village after the Second World War, accompanied by her teenage daughter.

They settle in a farmhouse which becomes the shelter for a colourful group of people: women who are fed up with their men, victims of incest, the village fool, a couple of lesbians and a dropout priest. Men are welcome, provided they can behave decently.

The village, ruled by hostile machos and hypocritical Catholics, doesn't like it, but whenever the farm is threatened, Antonia picks up her shotgun and gives them lessons they won't forget.

A modern fairy tale, the film moves between rural realism and fantasy, to amusing effect. Antonia's daughter has an eye for the absurd, and some of the visions she has include Christ nailed to the cross and winking at her. Blessed with a Latin vitality quite exceptional for a Dutch film, Antonia offers the tempting illusion that a world ruled by women might possibly be a better place to live.

Pieter van Lierop, FIPRESCI

Prod co: Stichting Bergen, Prime Time, Bard Entertainments, NPS Televisie

Prod: Hans de Weers

Co-prod: Antonino Lombardo, Judy Counihan

Dir/scr: Marleen Gorris

Ph: Willy Stassen

Ed: Michiel Reichwein, Wim Louwrier

Prod des: Harry Ammerlaan

Music: Ilona Sekacz

Sound: Dirk Bombey

Cast: Willeke van Ammelrooy, Els Dottermans, Jan Decleir, Marina de Graaf, Mil Seghers, Veerle van Overloop

Running time: 93 mins

Int sales: The Sales Company

Screening: 22 June, 20.00, Lucerna

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