FERRY

Belgium/Netherlands, 2021, 104 minutes, Colour.

Frank Lammers, Elise Schaap, Huub Stapel, Raymond Thiry, Monica Hendricks, Tim Linde.

Directed by Cecilia Verheyden.

Ferry (Frank Lammers) is a character from the television series, Undercover. The series was so popular that there was a decision made to provide a prequel, the early life of Ferry.

There are some indications of very difficult childhood for Ferry, a harsh and violent father. The action immediately shifts to Ferry in middle age, working for a wealthy businessmen/gangster, Brink (Huub Stapel). He is a hitman, a violent thug, very loyal to his employer. When there is a masked raid on the headquarters of the businessman and the businessman’s son shot, Ferry is commissioned to find the three masked invaders.

While this is the main action of the film, there is also the complexity of Ferry’s relationship with his sister, knowing of a tumour, her husband who has been a great friend and is very helpful in getting information for Ferry’s quest, and an encounter with an attractive young woman, seemingly romance the first time in Ferry’s life, and then the discovery of a secret about the third man he is seeking that has its effect on his romance. Ultimately, it will have an effect on his loyalty to his boss and a shootout.

If seen on its own, it is an effective portrait of a thug (who may have some redeeming qualities).

1. Title? The focus on Ferry? Audiences knowing him from the television series? This prequel, his background, life, work, relationships?
2. The settings in the Netherlands and Belgium? The atmosphere of the countries? Flemish culture and language? Flat country? The musical score?
3. The focus on Ferry, the flashbacks to his childhood, with his sister, with his mother, the severity of his father? Punishment and brutality? Explaining Ferry as an adult?
4. Ferry, in middle age, his working for Brink? Brink and his business empire? Criminal activities? Ferry, tough, brutal, no hesitation in executing orders? Loner? Alienated from his sister? The reasons given, their mother’s funeral and his anger? Eventual reconciliation?
5. Brink, his activities, his henchmen, the deals, drugs, money? The club, the secret area, the cash and money counting? Brink and his son, his disappointment with his son, his son working for him?
6. The invasion, the masked men, the taking of the money, the shots, the son being shot, taken to hospital, coma, eventually dying? His father’s grief?
7. Brink’s anger, commissioning ferry to find the attackers?
8. Brink, his getting clues, follow-up, contacts and information? His visit to his sister, his friendship with John, John helping him with identifying characters, getting information? Claudia, her illness, anger with Ferry? Ferry and his being upset, later visits, phone calls? Reliance on John?
9. The lead to the campsite, his going to the house of the suspect, seeing Danielle? Getting his own accommodation? The diner, meeting Danielle, her charm? Meeting, date, liaison? The effect on Ferry? Going into the house, making it look as if it were burgled, Danielle calling Jason? Ferry pursuing Jason, into the woods, the confrontation, confession, his death?
10. The continued pursuit, the clue is, the second man, identified, confrontation, death?
11. The continued relationship with Danielle, her response? The effect on Ferry?
12. His getting the name of the third attacker, discovering that he was Danielle’s brother, her devotion to her brother and his support? Ferry, the abrupt breaking with Danielle, her shock? Blaming herself?
13. Meeting with the brother, their talk, suspicions, the later confrontation, the brother just being the driver, his plea? In the woods, the shot?
14. Brink checking with Ferry about getting the men, Ferry lying about the brother? His return to Brink, his work?
15. Time passing, brooding about Danielle? Not doing his work, the next in charge, the deals with the drugs, the supervision?
16. The chance encounter with Danielle, the visit to Amsterdam, the underling and the confrontation? The threat to Danielle? Brink, upset, confronting Ferry? The shootout, ferry’s death?
17. The happy ending for Ferry, reconciled with Danielle, not telling the truth? Danielle meeting Claudia and John? Meeting her brother, his drug production, going into business with him?
18. And then the chronology of the television series?