KIDNAPPING MR. HEINEKEN

Netherlands/UK, 2015, 95 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, David Densic, Jemima West, Mark van Eeuwen, Thomas Cocquerel.
Directed by Daniel Alfredson.

Being a criminal does not necessarily being a mastermind, a mistake probably many criminals make. It is certainly a mistake that the criminals involved in this kidnapping make time and time again.

And who is Mr Heineken, the victim of the abduction? It sounds something to do with the famous Dutch beer. And that is correct. Four young men kidnapped Alfred (Freddy) Heineken, the man who built up the Heineken company. The kidnappers think that he is worth at least $60 million in ransom.

During the opening credits, Heineken is seen making a comment to one of the criminals that most people want friends and money – he makes the point that you can’t have both. And that is one of the morals of this film.

The setting is Amsterdam, 1983. In the aftermath of recession, the four young men who had been friends since school days and who had joined for business enterprises find themselves needing to borrow from a bank but unable to provide sufficient collateral for a loan. They do have a building which has been occupied by punks and hippies. Some strong arm tactics lead them into the hands of the police rather than freeing up their asset.

The father of one of the men worked for Heineken who actually sacked him but still has an enormous loyalty to him. Brainwave! Using the word brain seems something of an over-compliment. One significant idea that they have is that the kidnapping should look like the actions of the terrorist groups of time, like the Red Brigade or Baader-Meinhoff?. To emphasise this, they successfully rob a bank.

This is an international production. The conspirators are played by Jim Sturgess (UK), Sam Worthington (Australia), Ryan Kwanten (Australia), Mark van Eeuan (Holland). And Heineken himself is played with his usual intensity by Anthony Hopkins.

When the money is not forthcoming, Heineken himself is surprised and offers to pay the ransom himself, for himself and the driver who was taken with him. Of course, the four begin to get edgy as the days pass, some tempted to be violent, others preoccupied about keeping up normal appearances, visits to family, checking on Heineken’s desires, books, Chinese food…

For those not in the know, it is interesting to see how the whole plan works out, the eventual payment, the subsequent actions of the four men, the consequences for them. Interestingly, though the police are involved, the screenplay, based on the writing of investigative journalist, Peter De Vries, does not give any information about the police work except some surveillance and the response to an anonymous tip.

At the end of the film, there is substantial information given about each of the main characters, prison sentences, life after prison, criminal activity in Holland, and the continued success of Heineken himself who, on the basis of his experience, establishes a strong Security company.


1. Official? Abduction and the consequences?

2. True story, Heineken, his beer empire? The security company after the ordeal? The picture of the group, childhood friends, adult co-workers? The action, the aftermath, the sentences?

3. Amsterdam, the 1980s, the city, beauty, canals, streets, homes, the industrial area, the countryside, Paris? The musical score?

4. The introduction with Heineken, his talk about money, talk about friends? His winking and continuing throughout the film, even in the television interview at the end?

5. Friends, the need for money, the long friendship, going to the bank, not having collateral, the building, the fight with the punks occupying it, the police arrival, the clash, jail?

6. The background of the young men, Cat and his family and children? Cor, the relationship with Sonia, casual, her pregnancy? Willem, angry, the clashes with his father, the scenes at home, the meals, his mother and cooking, Sonia as his sister? Spikes, erratic? Brakes, younger, following?

7. The background of the father working for Heineken, being sacked by him, yet his loyalty? Cor and his brainwave, to abduct Heineken, the lure of the millions for ransom? The plan, the agreement, wanting to look professional, like the terrorist groups of the period? The decision to rob the bank, the masks, their escape, the car, the boat? Cat and his providing the building, building the room, making it soundproof, the testing?

8. The execution of the abduction, taking Heineken and his driver? Interning them?

9. Heineken’s character, self assured, easy, his requests, food, books, music? His reaction to Brakes, not saying anything? His being satisfied with the books, the Chinese food? The potential for violence and the attack on him? The days passing? Communication with his driver, the driver being afraid? The conversations being recorded?

10. The weakness of the group, the ransom notice and its being left on the photocopier? Going to the hotel, the bar, suspecting that police were observing them? Trying to be normal, in and out of the building, the meals at home, the discussions? Time passing, wondering about the ransom, its not being paid? Heineken and his reaction? Willem being prone to violence? Not hurting Heineken?

11. Cat, his hesitations? Brakes and his bringing the food?

12. The police watching, the anonymous tip, the film not giving information on the police work?

13. The TV coverage, speculation?

14. The note in the paper, agreeing to pay the ransom? Dictating the terms and the directions to the driver? The vehicle, throwing the money over the bridge, collecting the money, returning, the joke about the police?

15. Dividing money, Breaks able to go, his being caught? Cat driving, his arrest? Spikes, his paranoia, going with the group, fighting with Willem, leaving? The news about his being in a mental institution, the arrest, going to Paraguay, Peter De Vries tracking him down, his return, arrest?

16. Paris, the effect on Cor and Willem, forbidding Cor to ring Sonia, his anxiety, phoning, going into the street, the arrest?

17. The consequences, prison terms, Cor and Willem being involved in crime? Heineken and developing his Security Company?