Rutger Hauer's smoking a joint while solving a murder at a meditation center. Dutch cinema peaked here.
Detectives Grijpstra and De Gier are sent to investigate the case of a man who apparently hanged himself in a center for oriental meditation. It is ruled as suicide and the case seems to be closed, but the same night there is an attempted break in. The investigation hits a dead end and everyone involved is a suspect. Based on the book "The Corpse in the Haarlemmer Houttuinen” by Jan-Willem van de Wetering.
Acting
Hauer's effortless charisma before Hollywood owned him.
Production
Gritty Amsterdam locations that reek of authenticity.
Writing
Deadpan dialogue that mocks police procedurals mercilessly.
Director
Wim Verstappen
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Rijk de Gooyer and Rutger Hauer were already Dutch stars; this was Hauer's final domestic role before Hollywood came calling.
The film satirizes the 1970s Dutch police force's actual reputation for being underfunded, understaffed, and frequently stoned.
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