Alles is Liefde (Love is All) is perhaps the most romantic movie ever made in Dutch history. ‘Love is All’ was released in 2007 and directed by the Dutch film and television director Joram Lursen. Its success in the Netherlands is quite surprising given that Dutch people are quite skeptical about their own film industry. It has won several prizes and attracted more visitors than any other Dutch movie in the past 15 years, crossing the 1.3 million-visitor mark. A lot for Dutch standards! Some say it’s one of the few Dutch movies that isn’t about the Second World War nor has extreme sex scenes in it (some actually say that with slight disappointment in their voice).
Alles is Liefde is a romantic comedy in the style of (and inspired by) the British movie Love Actually, released in 2003. Love Actually was directed by Richard Curtis and stars Hugh Grant. A romantic so called mosaic movie where many different romantic storylines cross paths with each other.
The Dutch are known for being one of the most critical people in the world. When the rumor spread that a Dutch romantic comedy was being made, criticasters were wondering why on earth it was necessary to copy a movie from a genre so often produced overseas. But as you watch the movie you will see its a complete Dutch interpretation with lots of characteristically Dutch themes and elements.
Famous Dutch actors
First of all you have the cast. If you are interested in seeing some famous Dutch actors perform, here is your chance. Almost all of the Dutch actors written about in the gossip magazines star in this movie. Even the most famous ones didn’t feel too important to participate in small roles.
Also, several aspects characteristic of contemporary Dutch society feature in the movie. For instance, the Dutch are known for a liberal policy on drugs, sex work, euthanasia and abortion. And for tolerance in general. It was in the Netherlands in 2001 where the first gay marriage was legally recognized. Amsterdam ranks high on the list of gay friendly cities (following San Francisco, Brighton and Sydney). This tolerance is seen in several parts of the movie.
Then of course there is the Sinterklaas feast in the movie. In Holland, we celebrate Christmas, but we also have another “Christmas day,” the day that Sinterklaas visits, usually celebrated on Dec. 5. Although we too have been influenced by the commercialization and commodification, (or coca colanisation) of Christmas, and its focus on Dec. 25, in fact, our biggest and most traditional holiday is Sinterklaas.
And this is actually one of the main differences between the movies ‘Love Actually’ and ‘Love is all, and what makes this movie very Dutch. In ‘Love Actually’ everything is set up around Christmas Day, but in ‘Love is All’ the Dutch national holiday Sinterklaas plays a significant role.
Sinterklaas and love require belief to survive
The director of “All is Love” draws a parallel between the belief that children must keep in Sinterklaas in order for him to exist and the belief that adults must keep in love for it to survive. Without children who believe in Sinterklaas, he would cease to exist. Likewise without adults to believe in love, love would also disappear.
Apart from the movie being romantic, the movie is a showcase for the city of Amsterdam. It shows the city as a source of art & culture, opportunities, creativity, love, creative industries, interesting architecture, inspiration, excitement and adventure.
Cameraman Lex Brand has a good eye for the everyday prettiness of the city: the mix of the wonderful golden age architecture, the Amsterdam School houses from the 1900, and the luxury post0modern flats on the waterfronts that cater to the upper and middle class (or creative class). The cleanness of the city but also the rusty old bikes chained to the canal bridges. The filmmakers even flew in the digital colorist Didier le Fouest (famous from the movie Amelie) to give the images just that little extra to give the city of Amsterdam an even more romantic touch.
Take a look at the trailer (which is alas, in Dutch, but you can find this movie with English subtitles of course). You may be inspired to visit Amsterdam, and it makes an excellent romantic movie to watch with your Valentine this weekend.