Rutger Hauer hadn't made a film in his native country for thirty years when he agreed to star as
Dutch beer magnate Freddy Heineken in The Heineken Kidnapping (De Heineken ontvoering).
As director and co-writer Maarten Treurniet would later say, no other Dutch actor could have
played the part. Hauer's intense portrayal of this powerful, private man helped propel the film to
box office success in The Netherlands, as well as inspiring his younger co-stars to match his level
of performance (after they recovered from their initial intimidation).
The 1983 kidnap and ransom of Heineken and the subsequent pursuit of his kidnappers is a well-known story in Holland. After the film was
announced, several of the perpetrators sued the
production company for damage to their reputation, a point that director Treurniet treats with
amusement in the documentary on this Blu-ray. "You shouldn't kidnap somebody if you don't
want your reputation to be damaged", he says, with unimpeachable logic. Indeed, as noted in a
disclaimer at the beginning, Treurniet and his co-writer, Kees van Beijnum, did take liberties for
dramatic purposes with many factual details of the story, but they hewed closely to the key
events. The result is a tense, unusual thriller filled with distinctive characters who are both
magnetic and repellent.
Because the film's main events are taken from the historical record, there should be no question
of spoilers. However, if any prospective viewer wishes to watch The Heineken Kidnapping
without knowing whether the ransom was paid, the victim survived or the kidnappers were
apprehended, I suggest skipping down to the technical sections.
Treurniet's film divides into three acts. In the first, we meet the kidnappers and watch them plan
and execute the abduction. The idea to target Heineken comes from the youngest of the group,
called Rem Hubrechts in the film (Reinout Scholten van Aschat), as an extra layer of legal
protection against the real-life counterpart. Rem works on a construction crew for his brother-in-law, Cor van Hout (Gijs Naber), whose life style is
far too luxurious for a contractor. One day,
Rem overhears Cor plotting with his friends and co-workers, Frans Meijer (Teun Kuilboer) and
Jan Boellaard (Korneel Evers), over how to evade a tycoon's security detail. Why not kidnap
Heineken instead? he says to Cor. He doesn't have any security.
Rem's interest in Heineken is not an accident, and its roots are gradually revealed as the film
progresses. He is right, however, about the magnate's lack of security. As played by Hauer,
Heineken is a man who strides through life with a sense of power so absolute that it gives him
the illusion of being invulnerable, as if no one would dare touch him. The illusion is shattered
when, in a tense and sharply edited sequence, the four plotters grab Heineken with his chauffeur
and bundle them into a stolen van.
The film's second act details the three weeks during which Heineken was held in isolation in a
tiny concrete cell while the kidnappers negotiated for a ransom of 35 million Dutch guilders
(roughly $18 million). If the first act was about logistics, this portion deals with psychology, as
Heineken slowly crumbles from the harsh conditions and the fear that he will not survive, while
the kidnappers struggle to maintain an appearance of normalcy in their daily lives. Their efforts
are complicated by Rem, who would rather torment their captive and enjoy his expansive new
sense of accomplishment (he takes his new girlfriend to see Scarface and identifies with Tony
Montana).
The third act begins after the ransom has been paid and the police have recovered Heineken. But
the man who returns home is not the same man who was abducted. Haunted by nightmares,
obsessed with security, he now takes a personal interest in hunting down his kidnappers, who
have gone their separate ways. This act, too, is about logistics, but from the authorities' point of
view, as relatives are interviewed, phones are tapped and calls are traced. Eventually there are
legal proceedings as well, and Treurniet does a wonderful job of dramatizing what could have
easily become dry exposition about extradition and jurisdiction.
Always, though, Treurniet comes back to the wealthy international businessman, relentlessly
pursuing vengeance for the treatment he suffered at the hands of his assailants. The battle may
have started in the tiny soundproofed room where Rem and his partners held their captive, but
Heineken intends to crush his enemies on a much larger stage. In the end, he makes the shocking discovery
that not only can't he win the battle, but he can't even finish it.
I was unable to confirm the original shooting format of The Heineken Kidnapping, but the
cinematographer, South African DP Giulio Biccari, has extensive credits on digital productions
for British TV (Luther, MI-5) as well as American outlets (America: The Story of Us for The
History Channel). Regardless of the shooting format, the result, after processing through a digital
intermediate and conversion to a 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray, is an immaculately sharp,
noiseless and detailed image with excellent black levels and a color palette that should be a treat
for those who routinely complain about the amount of "teal and orange" in today's Hollywood
fare. For much of its running time, The Heineken Kidnapping features colors that are duller,
earthier and more prosaic, reflecting the smaller scope of the lives of its kidnapper-protagonists.
The palette changes to more somber and richer tones when it depicts Heineken's life before the
abduction, and it becomes even more varied late in the film when the kidnappers flee to various
exotic locations. The Blu-ray handles these shifts accurately, without oversaturation or bleeding.
Despite minimal extras, the 122-minute film has been placed on a BD-50 with limited
compression and an average bitrate of 30.71Mbps. The image quality remains high, and artifacts
are not an issue.
The soundtrack of The Heineken Kidnapping isn't rich with surround effects, but the sound
editing is crucial to establishing various distinctive environments. First and foremost is the nerve-wracking ambiance of Heineken's cell during his captivity,
with its piped-in music (he objects to
the selections) and its crucial ventilation system supplying him with air. The start and stop of the
fan provide an entire drama without dialogue. Other locales—Rem's home, the construction
office, the local bar where the gang members are regulars—have their own sound cues subtly
woven into the mix.
I don't speak Dutch and thus can't vouch for the clarity of the dialogue. English subtitles appear
in yellow and are clear and easy to read. The effective score is by Tom Holkenborg, who usually
appears under the name "Junkie XL" and has contributed to the scores of Resident Evil, Shark
Tale and Kingdom of Heaven.
Behind the Scenes (1080p; 1.78:1; 20:37): This informative documentary appears to be
exclusive to the American release, because everyone speaks in English. Treurniet, Hauer
and the rest of the principal cast speak in depth about the making of the film. Treurniet
discuss his extensive research, and a highlight is his guided tour of an exhibit of
memorabilia from the real Heineken kidnapping. Also of interest is his discussion of
events following those portrayed in the film. Note: The documentary is preceded by a
spoiler warning. Take it seriously.
Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 2:35:1; 2:12): In Dutch with English subtitles.
Additional Trailers: At startup the disc plays trailers (in 1080p) for Fightville, John
Mellencamp: It's About You and Americano. These can be skipped with the chapter
forward button and are not otherwise available once the chapter loads.
Perhaps the most subversive element of The Heineken Kidnapping is its ambiguous stance
toward right and wrong. Mainstream American films typically feel the need to underline the
difference, whether they come down on the side of authority or that of an anti-hero. Treurniet is
more oblique. There's never any question that the four kidnappers have broken the law and
should be punished, or that Heineken and his chauffeur have been victimized. At the same time,
Treurniet and Hauer reveal Heineken as someone who simply assumed that wealth and privilege
were his innate right, and who never had to consider the fragility of life (his or others') until four
younger men of equally outsized ambition but fewer scruples (or, perhaps, less fortunate birth)
shattered his world. In the vengeful pursuit of his tormentors, Hauer's Heineken often recalls an
old-style crime boss remorselessly hunting down rivals. Meanwhile, at home he is an emotional
wreck. His prey on the run aren't doing much better. Between the lines of a crime caper,
Treurniet has made an unsettling study of the corrupting effects of power, on both those who
have it and those who seize it. Highly recommended.
MPI Media Group will release on Blu-ray Dutch director Maarten Treurniet's thriller De Heineken Ontvoering a.k.a The Heineken Kidnapping (2011), starring Rutger Hauer, Gijs Naber and Sallie Harmsen. Street date is August 28th.
