First of all, I'll have to tell you something about Flemish folklore. Mechelen is the proud owner of a centuries-old mascot doll which represents a rather chubby and louche looking man. During festivities, the doll is laid into a blanket and then thrown high into the air, as a symbol of the punishment meted out to drunkards who beat their wives. Now this puppet bears a lot of names, one of which, "Opsinjoor", refers to the nickname given to the inhabitants of Antwerpen. (In past centuries there existed an economic and cultural rivalry between the cities of Mechelen and Antwerpen, which caused a certain degree of mutual distrust and teasing.)
In the year 1949 a group of students at an Antwerpen university stole the Opsinjoor puppet, possibly by way of restful change to a busy schedule of drinking and partying. Now this happened shortly after a world war which had caused deep scars, meaning that people were desperate for entertainment and good cheer. As a result both the public and the press decided to treat this as a jolly joke by a number of delightful sprites. Thousands of giggling readers read madcap accounts about the puppetnappers playing a daring cat-and-mouse game with the police. Meanwhile the puppet itself was said to appear in the most unexpected of places, drinking beer, dancing a polonaise or wearing the lace nightgown and cap of a grandmother.
Authorities took a more grim approach to the matter, even though the puppet was returned safely and soundly. The students responsible for the prank had to appear in court, on suspicion of theft, but then... But I'm not going to spoil the movie for you.
"De Roof van Hop-Marianneke" is a black-and-white comedy based on the student prank. However, some elements were changed. The puppet, for instance, now looks like a young female with a particularly silly expression. The result is ambiguous : the characters mention the names of fictional cities, but much of the scenery is clearly Mechlinian, such as the sight of the iconic cathedral tower.
It's not an entirely bad movie ; it tells a coherent story (mainly by way of flashbacks related to witness evidence) and it contains a number of likeable scenes, such as the "Hupsasa !" song and dance sequence set in some kind of beerkeller. (Watch a male student dance with the puppet.) However, it is not the funniest or wittiest movie around, possibly because it is too nice and staid and orderly. As a result a number of the more surreal and anarchic aspects of the affair get lost. Or perhaps it's just a matter of talent : some people can "sell" a good joke or a tall tale, some people can't.
The fact that some of the "students" look closer to 30 than 20 does not help...
Still, "De Roof van Hop-Marianneke" deserves at least some attention, as a bona fide representative of a certain type of Belgian post-war cinema. And the passage of time has given it a charming time capsule feel, both with regard to the court system and with regard to student life.
For all students drinking beer : up with our glasses ! For all students not drinking beer : down with our glasses !
In the year 1949 a group of students at an Antwerpen university stole the Opsinjoor puppet, possibly by way of restful change to a busy schedule of drinking and partying. Now this happened shortly after a world war which had caused deep scars, meaning that people were desperate for entertainment and good cheer. As a result both the public and the press decided to treat this as a jolly joke by a number of delightful sprites. Thousands of giggling readers read madcap accounts about the puppetnappers playing a daring cat-and-mouse game with the police. Meanwhile the puppet itself was said to appear in the most unexpected of places, drinking beer, dancing a polonaise or wearing the lace nightgown and cap of a grandmother.
Authorities took a more grim approach to the matter, even though the puppet was returned safely and soundly. The students responsible for the prank had to appear in court, on suspicion of theft, but then... But I'm not going to spoil the movie for you.
"De Roof van Hop-Marianneke" is a black-and-white comedy based on the student prank. However, some elements were changed. The puppet, for instance, now looks like a young female with a particularly silly expression. The result is ambiguous : the characters mention the names of fictional cities, but much of the scenery is clearly Mechlinian, such as the sight of the iconic cathedral tower.
It's not an entirely bad movie ; it tells a coherent story (mainly by way of flashbacks related to witness evidence) and it contains a number of likeable scenes, such as the "Hupsasa !" song and dance sequence set in some kind of beerkeller. (Watch a male student dance with the puppet.) However, it is not the funniest or wittiest movie around, possibly because it is too nice and staid and orderly. As a result a number of the more surreal and anarchic aspects of the affair get lost. Or perhaps it's just a matter of talent : some people can "sell" a good joke or a tall tale, some people can't.
The fact that some of the "students" look closer to 30 than 20 does not help...
Still, "De Roof van Hop-Marianneke" deserves at least some attention, as a bona fide representative of a certain type of Belgian post-war cinema. And the passage of time has given it a charming time capsule feel, both with regard to the court system and with regard to student life.
For all students drinking beer : up with our glasses ! For all students not drinking beer : down with our glasses !
