Mariken (2000 film)
- Laurien Van den Broeck: Mariken
- January Decleir: Archibald
- Willeke van Ammelrooy: Griet
- Kim van Kooten: Isabella
- Johanna ter Steege: Countess
- Ramsey Nasr: Devil
- Willem van de Broeck: Rattenjan
- Dora van der Groen: Black Widow
The Children's Film Mariken is a Dutch- Belgian fantasy film from the year 2000.
Action
The old man Archibald lives in a town in the Middle Ages. He is educated and can read in contrast to many people. He is alien to the common people. Someone whom they distrust. Finally, he is expelled from the city. On his way out of town drives past a coach to him, it sits a woman with a child in her arms. As he went a little further the path, he finds a baby. On his shirt is written, I'm Mariken, take good care of me.
Some years later. Mariken is now 8 years old. They live in a cabin in the woods. The townspeople believe that evil spirits live in this forest, so they are there unmolested. Archibald taught to read and write Mariken. He has taught an open approach to the world, which vastly differs from the drawn of superstition medieval world.
Now one day a wanderer comes through the forest. Drawn by superstition, he holds Mariken for a wood sprite. At night kills the hiker the goat of Archibald, because he is hungry. As Mariken noticed this the next day, she sets out alone in the city. At the edge of the forest she meets the first house. There lives an old woman - the black widow. This keeps Mariken for the child, the devil, and locks her up. In her prison she meets Rattenjan, which is also held captive by the black widow. Rats obey him word, that's why his name. It ensures that the rats bite through the chains of Mariken. He himself, however, is chained with iron. And so Mariken must flee at first alone.
Once in the city she is trying to get a goat. What turns out to be impossible for them because she has no money. Way, she meets jugglers. A man in a devil costume turns to her as a devil. But Mariken has no fear of the devil. From Archibald she had learned that in every man stuck a devil and an angel. And so she realizes very quickly that this is not the devil. She finds shelter with the entertainers, they. When Isabella from this group Mariken find a surrogate mother. This is living with the devil cast, but the two have as yet no children.
In the meantime, Archibald has gone in search of Mariken. But he can not find them in the city. The entertainers, they should give you an idea for the Countess of the city. This is bored at her castle. In presenting the Countess becomes aware of Mariken. That Mariken no shows humility in front of the ruler, annoys the Countess, on the other hand, it also makes them curious. She decides to keep the child because she also has no children. The entertainers are driven out of the castle. Mariken may eventually soften the heart of the Countess, does not feel in the castle but well.
Meanwhile, a dispute between Isabella and the "devil" is kindled. She asks him to go to the Countess to get back the child. This, however, is too cowardly. Therefore, Isabella makes itself on the way. You risking to be captured by the Countess. But this also agrees. And so Mariken comes back to Isabella.
On the way out of town, the jugglers troupe comes to the house of the "Black Widow" by. Now, the "devil" can prove his courage. It helps to rid the Mariken Rattenjan. In the forest she finally meets Archibald again. It turns out that Archibald has also left as a young man his baby alone. When Griet, the mother of the "devil", was pregnant, this is cut off.
Mariken want to stay with Archibald, but he tells her that Mariken has found a new family. With Isabella and the "devil", as their parents, and Rattenjan than her brother. And so Mariken finally realizes that she has found what she was looking for a family.
Reviews
" Sensitively played and staged fairy tale that tells a story lovingly decorated in unusually slow rhythm and can be tapped only with patience. "
Awards
The fairytale Mariken received 4 awards. Including a 2nd place at the International Film Festival in Emden.