Main Cast: Halina Reijn, Jacob Derwig, Carmelo Gómez, Elvira Mínguez, Ulises Dumont
Release Year: 2003
Country: NL
Run Time: 104 minutes
Plot
Written and directed by Alex van Warmerdam, Grimm is an absurdist, decidedly black take on the Hansel and Gretel story. Set in modern day Holland, Grimm centers around siblings Marie (Halina Reijn) and Jacob (Jacob Derwig), who were sent to the forest under the pretext of gathering firewood while, unbeknownst to them, their impoverished family left for parts unknown. Before long, Marie and Jacob learn of their abandonment; all that is left from their parents is a brief note advising them to go to Spain and take up residence with their uncle. The first setback comes in the form of a smarmy farmer (Frank Lammers) who forces Jacob to have sex with his obese wife (Annet Malherbe). Shortly afterwards, Marie turns to prostitution, but Jacob intervenes before she goes too far. Eventually, the siblings find a moped and take off for Spain -- only to find out that their uncle has died. When a wealthy surgeon (Carmelo Gomez) falls for Marie, the broke siblings' prospects seem to be looking up once gain. Unfortunately for them, the ultimate consequence of Marie's quickie marriage is nothing either of them would have imagined. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
Frank Lammers; Annet Malherbe; Teresa Berganza; Johan Leysen; Peggy Sandaal; Jaap Spijkers; Laura Cepeda
Credit
Annet Malherbe - Casting, Camilla-Valentine Isola - Casting, Leonie Polak - Costume Designer, Bina Daigeler - Costume Designer, Marc van der Bijl - First Assistant Director, Alex Van Warmerdam - Director, Stefan Kamp - Editor, Wouter Barendrecht - Executive Producer, Michael J. Werner - Executive Producer, Wim Lehnhausen - Line Producer, Alex Van Warmerdam - Composer (Music Score), Miguel Lopez Pelegrin - Production Designer, Pelegrin De Simon - Production Designer, Miguel Lopez - Production Designer, Tom Erisman - Cinematographer, Marc van Warmerdam - Producer, Roberto van Eijden - Sound/Sound Designer, Peter Plamman - Sound/Sound Designer, Alex Van Warmerdam - Screenwriter
A brother and sister, Jacob and Marie, are abandoned in the woods by their father while collecting firewood. From that moment on, the two teens must fend for themselves, fighting off rape and taking any possible situation, reacting to situations as if animals. Their mother put a note in Jacob's jacket telling them to go to their aunt and uncle in Spain, but they arrive to find them both deceased of accident.
Not sure what to do, Jacob, feeling hungry, goes to buy a roll, and finds a note left by Marie that she has gone off to marry a rich man named Diego. Jacob arrives at the house, ominous in spite of the brightness, and finds much to distrust in Diego.
Diego, a surgeon, then plots to steal Jacob's kidney to help his sick sister Theresa. Diego drugs both Marie and Jacob and separates the brother and sister.
After Marie escapes, she finds Jacob severely sick in a stolen car and both brother and sister (reunited again) drive away. Suddenly they are pursued by Diego.
