‘Character’ Poses Mystery Without An Obvious Answer

It’s easy to see why “Character,” the Dutch-made winner of last year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, might be popular with American audiences.

Its style, marked by a continually mobile camera, bears a distinctly American influence - especially as compared to such cinematically static French films as “Ponette” and “Thieves.” And its look, underscored by the cinematography of Rogier Stoffers, is gloomily crisp.

Too bad the subject matter is so difficult. As good as it is otherwise, “Character” isn’t likely to draw even middling crowds.

That difficulty works on two levels. One is the storyline itself, which involves the ongoing struggle between a Rotterdam businessman and his illegitimate son. The second is director Mike van Diem’s occasionally obscure way of propelling his narrative.

Set in the early 20s, and based on a novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk, “Character” tells the story of three main characters. The first two are Dreverhaven (Jan Decleir), the Scrooge-like bailiff of Rotterdam who relishes evicting the poor, and Joba (Betty Schuurman), the close-mouthed woman who serves as his housekeeper.

When Dreverhaven one day suddenly rapes Joba, she abruptly leaves his employ. Pregnant, she insists - despite his entreaties - on having nothing to do with the bailiff. She will raise her child alone.

But what a life this leaves young Jacob Willem Katadreuffe. His mother never speaks to him. His father refuses to recognize him. Neighborhood children spit on him and call his mother names.

Only his beloved books, left behind by a former tenant, offer him any solace. And so, with no other prospects before him, he becomes a student. Ultimately, it is his mind, buoyed by his willingness to work, that will make his fortune.

Yet something else pushes him, too.

“Character” opens with a meeting between father and son. And the following scenes suggest that the boy has committed fratricide. The movie becomes a flashback, Katadreuffe telling his tale by answering questions put forth by the police.

The mystery aspect of the film aside, “Character” is a study of the nature vs. nurture question. How much of a child’s personality is inherited vs. how much is learned.

Director van Diem offers no convincing answers. In fact, he complicates matters by refusing to have Katadreuffe voice opinions about confusing sequences (case in point: a scene where Dreverhaven courts death by posting an eviction notice during a worker’s riot).

What’s clear is that the boy’s mother is temperamentally incapable of connecting with her child. It’s clear that the bailiff is emotionally crippled to the point that he dreams of death’s sweet release.

Ultimately, though, what’s most clear is that whatever strengths that Katadreuffe inherently brings to the mix, his ability to share intimacy is as poorly developed as his ability to succeed at his chosen profession is pronounced.

His character, then, has been irrevocably set.

“Character” *** Locations: Lincoln Heights Cinemas Credits: Directed by Mike van Diem, starring Fedja Van Huet, Jan Decleir, Betty Schuurman, Victor Low, Tamar van den Dop, Hans Kesting Running time: 1:54 Rating: R