Simon is a 2004 Dutch drama film written and directed by Eddy Terstall.
The story is about two male friends, one heterosexual and one gay. Same sex marriage and euthanasia are prominent themes of the film. The film has won three Golden Calves, for Best Actor (Cees Geel), Best Director (Eddy Terstall) and Best Feature Film, as well as the Audience Award (Eddy Terstall) of the Netherlands Film Festival. It was also the Dutch entry for the Oscars in 2005, but it was not nominated.
Contents
Plot
One of the characters is Camiel, a gay dentist who marries his lover and the other is Simon (Cees Geel), a heterosexual drugs dealer and lady magnet. They become close friends in the late 1980s, but Camiel does something that interrupts their friendship.
After fourteen years Camiel and Simon meet again, but Simon is now terminally ill with cancer.
Simon has a daughter, Joy (Nadja Hüpscher) and a son, Nelson (Stijn Koomen). They develop a friendship with Camiel and his husband and after Simon's death Camiel adopts them.
Cast
Cees Geel as Simon Cohen
Marcel Hensema as Camiel Vrolijk
Rifka Lodeizen as Sharon
Nadja Hüpscher as Joy
Eva Duijvestein as Ellen
Daan Ekkel as Marco
Dirk Zeelenberg as Bram
Stijn Koomen as Nelson
Johnny de Mol as Floris (billed as Johnny de Mol jr.)
Maria Kooistra as Gwen
Femke Lakerveld as Adrienne
Natasja Loturco as Astrid, Camiel's Assistant
Araba Walton as Gisela
Medi Broekman as Priscilla
Dennis Rudge as Sjimmie
Helena Remeijers as Djoeke
Esmarel Gasman as Merjolein
Wilhelmija Lamp as Alijt (billed as Willemijn Lamp)
Klavertje Patijn as Liselot
Ron Schuitemaker as Sjors (billed as Ron Schuitema)
Jenayden Adriaan as Bruce
Lisa Kuil as Samantha
Laura Dozzelne as Joy - Age 7 (billed as Laura Dozzolne)
Jeroen Willems as Huisarts
Aaron Wan as Neurologist
Howard van Dodemont as Traffic Cop
Henk Kreekel as 2nd Opinion Arts
Nico Huisman as Student
Emmanuel K. Obinna as (Soldier #1) (billed as Emmanuel Obinna K)
Troy Patterson as (Soldier #2)
Matt Kosokoff as Director
Pee Chantrarangsan as Thaise Man in Bar
Reception
Simon received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 67% based on reviews from 6 critics, and an average rating of 5.7/10. On Metacritic it has a score of 59 out of 100, based on reviews from 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Jay Weissberg of Variety wrote: "Slick packaging and easy ensemble-playing can't mask hoary 'gather round, I'm dying' formula."