Schneider vs. Bax

Schneider vs. Bax is a 2015 Dutch film directed by Alex van Warmerdam, starring Tom Dewispelaere and Warmerdam. It tells the story of a contract killer who has one day to assassinate a reclusive writer.

Schneider vs. Bax
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlex van Warmerdam
Produced byMarc van Warmerdam
Written byAlex van Warmerdam
CinematographyTom Erisman
Edited byJob ter Burg
Release date
  • 28 May 2015 (2015-05-28)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryNetherlands
Belgium[1]
LanguageDutch

Plot

On his birthday, Schneider, a contract killer disguised as a handyman reluctantly takes on the easy task of killing Bax, a novelist who has a substance-abuse problem that could do him in before his rival contract arrives. Mertens, Schneider's boss orders him to grab his rifle and get to work. He insists the job to be done today, adding, “Ramon Bax is a child killer”. Bax who is a total mess is also a pro-hitman under Mertens and forgets he was supposed to kill Schneider that day because, according to Mertens, “Schneider is a child killer”. Bax also has to deal with his younger lover, Nadine and his lecherous father, Gerard. But he is confident because his adversary plays by certain rules and won’t strike when Francisca, his adult depressed daughter is nearby. Both Schneider and Bax know they are being played, but since it is a contract they have a certain obligation. Schneider uses an escort whom he has saved from a pimp to do cover work for him. Francisca who is depressed and frustrated that no one is there to help her, kills her grandfather Gerard when he tries to molest her and hides his body in a nearby swamp. Francisca comes to know her father is a hitman rather than a novelist, and she tries to help him to finish Schneider. Meanwhile, Schneider picks up Mertens and props him as a target for Bax. Bax kills Mertens mistakenly. Bax prepares to leave the house since the client is dead and the contract is no longer valid; he considers this to be valid, in principle, for his colleague Schneider as well. But Schneider considers Bax to be a threat, kills him and hunts down Francisca as she is a witness to his crime. Francisca appears naked before Schneider near the swamp where she killed her grandfather. Schneider leaves her and joins with his family for his birthday celebration. Francisca appears to be disoriented or free from her problems naked in the swamp.

Cast

Production

The film was co-produced through Graniet Film and Belgium's Czar TV in collaboration with the broadcast association VARA. It received 650,000 euro from the Nederlands Filmfonds, 200,000 euro from the Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds and 470,000 euro from Eurimages.[2][3][4] Filming began in July 2014 and took two months.[5]

Release

The film was released in the Netherlands on 28 May 2015.[6] It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.[7]

References
  1. Peter Debruge (8 August 2015). "Locarno Film Review: 'Schneider vs. Bax'". Variety. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  2. "Nieuwe film Alex van Warmerdam en 2 jeugdfilms ondersteund". filmfonds.nl (in Dutch). 2013-12-23. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  3. "Zeven nieuwe Nederlandse en Vlaamse films ondersteund". hollandsefilm.nl (in Dutch). 2013-12-23. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  4. "Co-production support – Year 2014". coe.int. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  5. "Opnames Schneider vs. Bax begonnen". orkater.nl (in Dutch). 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  6. "Schneider vs. Bax". cineart.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  7. "Sandra Bullock's 'Our Brand Is Crisis,' Robert Redford's 'Truth' to Premiere at Toronto". Variety. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
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