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TIFF Picks 09: Alex van Warmerdam’s The Last Days of Emma Blank

Can’t say that I’m familiar with the Dutch film industry or helmer Alex van Warmerdam, but I’ve made room in my schedule for this dark comedy based on a couple of stills and the trailer.

Eric Lavallée

Published on September 7, 2009

#24. THE LAST DAYS OF EMMA BLANK

Director: Alex van Warmerdam
Cast: Marlies Heuer, Gene Bervoets, Annet Malherbe, Eva van de Wijdeven, Gijs Naber
Distributor: Rights Available.

Buzz: Can’t say that I’m familiar with the Dutch film industry or helmer Alex van Warmerdam, but I’ve made room in my schedule for this dark comedy based on a couple of stills and the trailer. TIFF’s Dimitri Eipides describes this as “a dark comedy so cynical it’s bound to make your head spin. The director even casts himself as a dog. Alex van Warmerdam pushes his way forward with a brilliant adaptation of a near-impossible screenplay.” I could see this being a fit on a label such as IFC Films.

The Gist: Emma is a lady living in high style, surrounded by family members who double as maids and servants. Everyone hopes Emma’s bad health will soon do her in, letting them inherit her substantial wealth.

TIFF Schedule: Click here for screening times

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Eric Lavallée

Eric Lavallée is the founder, CEO, editor-in-chief, film journalist and critic at IONCINEMA.com (founded in 2000). Eric is a regular at Sundance, Cannes and TIFF. He has a BFA in Film Studies at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 2013 he served as a Narrative Competition Jury Member at the SXSW Film Festival. He was an associate producer on Mark Jackson's This Teacher (2018 LA Film Festival, 2018 BFI London). In 2022 he served as a New Flesh Comp for Best First Feature at the 2022 Fantasia Intl. Film Festival. Current top films for 2022 include Tár (Todd Field), All That Breathes (Shaunak Sen), Aftersun (Charlotte Wells).