liafietz

Accused directed by Paula van der Oest - is a film based on the true story of Lucia de Berk, an intense drama about the biggest failure of the legal justice system in Dutch history.

After one of so many inexplicable baby death’s where Nurse Lucia (40) was once again present, the children’s hospital alerts the police. Assistant District Attorney Judith (28), driven by ambition and genuinely outraged, puts a lot of efforts in the investigation and considers Lucia guilty. The newspapers brand Lucia ‘The Angel of Death’ and she is sentenced to life in prison. When Judith discovers inconsistencies in witness statements, and suppression of lab evidence that was ignored by her superiors, Judith’s role is reversed. She teams up with Lucia’s lawyer, but at every appeal the original guilty verdict is confirmed. Circumstances are lamentable until they get the media involved and the case takes another turn.

What made you decide to direct this film based on true events about a nurse wrongly accused and imprisoned?
One of the producers of the film approached me. I had followed Lucia Berk’s real story a little. After  reading the script, I realized I didn’t know much about it and might have been among the people that had mixed feelings about her, part of me thinking she might be guilty. The moment I realized I was among these people I decided to tell this story because it’s an important and incredible story. Maybe in the US people think the Netherlands is a civilized society and the legal system is correct/opened, but in our country there are also big mistakes in the justice system.

The film has been chosen for the entry to the Academy's Best Foreign Language Film Award. This is isn’t the first time, you were nominated in 2002 for ZUS&ZO. Any expectations with this nomination?
In 2002 the nomination was for a complete different movie. Basically a 3 sister comedy and everything was such a surprise, we were celebrating this enormous event. Since I have been nominated before I am somewhat familiar with the procedure, but still find it extremely incredible and am very excited about it. I know I will be immature with it (laughs)

Will this be opening doors to film in the United States? Is this something you would consider?
One of the things I like the most about my job is directing features and I have directed several films in my own country, which I’m very grateful for. But I must say I look forward to work with a new range of actors, including in the US. Also when I make films in my own country it will be for them, it’s a tiny country, people go to the cinema one to two times a year. In the US there is a wider range of viewers, it’s more of a movie lovers country.

How was the reaction of Accused in the Netherlands?
It was very positive. The reviews were good, the audience were moved to tears. It’s ironic that the press that once condemned Lucia, considered her a monster are the one’s now  saying how the film made justice to her. People realized by watching this whole process how easy you go along with it, the mass histeria behind it.

Did you meet the real Lucia?
Yes, she was part of the whole process. We didn’t want to exclude her from this film, since it was completely about her story, of course we added some fictionalized elements. We didn’t want to do to her what she had to endure for 10 years, what other people decided without her being able to respond.

Has Lucia seen the film?
Yes, she was at the premiere, it was in a very nice theater, she walks to the stage with her beautiful dress where everyone was applauding and many people were in tears.  Definitely a memorable moment.

How did you start directing? Were your parents an inspiration/working in the film business?
Not at all, I am from a very small village. My parents were in the laundry industry. The nearest cinema was 50 km away. My art teacher, in middle school, thought that it would be good for me to apply for the film academy. I followed his advice and I even told the film academy I wanted to be an editor, because there was a lack of editors, so they took me in as a student. Later I switched to directing and writing. Only at the film academy I felt that directing is what I really wanted to do. My love for directing probably started in film school.

Did you find it difficult to break in the film industry as a woman director, where the majority are men in directing?
In my country there are a lot of women working in film. Maybe 40% to 60%. I believe a few male directors are frustrated that the head of the Dutch film fund is a woman, usually the powerful positions in the film business are female. Maybe its the other way around in my country. Of course its a tough job directing, and maybe compared to the US it’s far more competitive.

How was the casting process?
The actress (Ariane Schluter) that I chose is a well known theater actress, which she won several awards for, but she didn’t do many film roles. When Ariane walked in the audition room with the same clothes that the nurse (Lucia de Berk) wore, that she had seen from the news and newspapers, (with a jacket and a short skirt) and she was talking with the same dialect that people speak in the city of The Hague speak. This actress transformed herself completely for the role and I immediately saw her play the part.

Are you taking on any future projects?
I just finished shooting a TV series with Ariana, who plays the nurse and I have a feature drama shooting next year; also I am writing a comedy. I try to develop several projects  simultaneously so that in the end I will make one of them (laughs).

 

interview by L. Fietz