Flodder (1986)

This Dutch classic by Dick Maas, director of the highly suspenseful film 'The Lift' (De Lift - 1983) and the awful 'Sint' (2010), was a huge success in the Netherlands in the eighties, mostly appealing to those with the typical sense of humor of a teenager.I'm in my forties now and must admit I've seen it more than a dozen times and still enjoy it a lot. It's quite rude but none more so than many other films I saw over the years and judging by Simon Pegg's and Nick Frost's success these days there's a more than willing audience for this kind of fun.The story is about a family of asocial misfits who are relocated to a villa in an upper class neighborhood, the only available place due to housing shortage. Their eccentric behavior to say the least causes havoc among the local residents who take the law into their own hands trying to get rid of the family, eventually discovering they're not much different. Housing issues are common in overcrowded areas in the Netherlands where in the eighties whole communities had to be taken down because of severe industrial pollution of the grounds they were built on.Most of the humor is of a sexual nature in a very basic sense. It's with toe clenching satisfaction to safely observe so much obscenity but with an almost delicate touch that puts serious social problems into perspective. Incest, alcoholism, neglect of the elderly, Dick Maas tackles them beautifully in a great social satire.Some reviews mention a typical Dutch sense of humor. I think there's a certain amount of sexual obscenities and slapstick in films from loads of other countries and often with a much darker and scarier background. If there must be a typical Dutch sense of humor I'd rather think of Alex van Warmerdam's films 'Abel' and 'The Northerners'. If there's something typically Dutch in this film though, it's friendly rudeness.The film is done low budget but it doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The acting is fine throughout the film and Nelly Frijda as Ma Flodder is epic. She, Huub Stapel (Johnnie Flodder), René van 't Hoff (son Kees) and Tatjana Simic (daughter Kees) are showbiz veterans and as a team carry this film to a higher level than it's been given credit for.Look out for the memorable scene where daughter Kees for blackmail purposes seduces horny neighbor Neuteboom (Bert André).Followed by Flodder in Amerika! (1992), Flodder 3 (1995) and a five season TV series (1993-1998).

Flodder is without a doubt the funniest film I've ever seen. Timing is the keyword in this movie. I've must have seen the movie for more than 30 times. Every time I discover something new that makes me laugh out loud. The acting is superb and so is the directing. All in all, this is maybe the best movie ever made in Holland.10/10

Although a poor film it contains more than enough good jokes, and that is just why it was being made.If you like the rude dutch sense of humor this would be a movie you certainly like. Lots of influence of Brutti, Scorchi e Cattivi from Ettore Scola. If you think flodder is a bit corny, go and see this tasteful movie.

"Flodder" is one of the funniest movies ever made and few people realise that it is a Dutch movie made by none other than the Holland version of John Carpenter, the famous Dick Maas, author and director of the thriller "Amsterdamned". The Flodder family is the reincarnation of the term a-social. When the whole family bunch, basically all bastards, criminals and sluts must be relocated from their City slum because of toxic waste under their house, the city council house no choice. The only available space is in the "Zoendal" - the "Sun Valley" the best area in Amsterdam where all doctors, snobs and businessmen can afford to live their lives. And where the central point of interest and politics is the tennis club of the community. The Flodder family brings devastation to the tranquil world that ruled before. They are simply unbelievable. The characterisation is incredibly funny, beginning with Ma Flodder who searches other people's trash cans for food or making illegal liquor in her cellar and ending with the eldest daughter who is the biggest slut on earth. Together they make the most horrible family imaginable, a sort of immoral mirror image to the Brady Bunch or the Waltons. When the City counsel of Amsterdam hoped that the Flodders would show their good will to be more civilised in their new area, it turns out that Holland's most famous family would rather bring out the worst in the rich people of "Sun Valley"-wonderland. The rest is a hilarious, brilliant and well made social satire that can be watched as a provocative movie as well as a straightforward comedy. Dick Maas at his best. I salute him! Flooder was the Dutch smash hit in 1986 and brought two sequels and a tv series. All of the sequels were nice but not as great as the original.Flodders (1986) is available on DVD in Germany in a dubbed German version in Dolby Digital 5.1. under the name:"Flodders -Eine Familie zum knutschen"Why is First Floor Features, the producer of the movie not bringing the Dick Maas blockbusters out on DVD in the Netherlands, I wonder. The are not even available on video there. These movies have so much potential, still to this day and have a huge silent but true following.