Alex Van Warmerdam’s 'Borgman' Confounds And Delights At Cannes

Borgman, a Dutch film from writer-director Alex van Warmerdam, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday as one of the many films in the official competition. Borgman, a dark thriller, stars Jan Bijvoet, Hadewych Minis, and Jeroen Perceval.

The film, an ambiguous tale of seduction and death, succeeded in separating itself from its competitors in the competition for the Palme d’Or.

“It is the creepiest film in the Cannes Competition: Dutch director Alex Von Warmerdam’s Borgman,” wrote Karin Badt of the The Huffington Post.

In Borgman, a grifter of sorts finds a home with a well-to-do couple, infecting their home and changing their lives. The film was reportedly greeted with applause, though critics seem conflicted as to whether they should be singing Von Warmerdam’s praises or questioning the nontraditional story arch.

“What gives the story an edge is that we have no idea why all this is happening,” Badt writes in her review.

“While conventional narrative rules dictate that answers be supplied, van Warmerdam is content to keep piling on mysteries,” wrote David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter.

The confusing narrative comes naturally to van Warmerdam, whose previous works include Little Tony, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998 as a part of the Un Certain Regard competition.

“I can’t explain. I know nothing more than you,” van Warmerdam answered when asked by reporters if he could enlighten them about the intricacies of the film.