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Character

1997Movie2 h 2 min

DramaHistory
86
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Rotten Tomatoes92%92%

A deeply moving, slow-burning history movie about family and class and money, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · teens · drop-in friendly

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, warmth or comfort.

Movies with

Story

In pre-WWII Holland, the penniless, illegitimate son of a powerful bailiff sets out to become a lawyer as he spends a lifetime struggling to prove his worth to his relentlessly spiteful father.

Feels like

  • Dutch Historical Drama
  • Class Conflict
  • Complex Father-Son Dynamic
  • Psychological Depth
  • Tragic Narrative
  • Pre-WWII Holland
  • Ambitious Protagonist
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Social Commentary

Cast

24 of 27

Crew

Directed by
Mike van Diem
Written by
Mike van Diem, Ferdinand Bordewijk
Produced by
Laurens Geels
Music by
Het Paleis van Boem

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 17, 1997 · 2 h 2 min · History, Drama

Released
April 17, 1997
Runtime
2 h 2 min
Genres
History, Drama
Original language
Dutch
Also spoken
English, French, German
Made in
Belgium, Netherlands
Budget
$5 million
Available in
6 countries

Tropes

Chekhov's Skill, The One That Got Away, "Not Wearing Pants" Dream +9

  • Chekhov's Skill
  • The One That Got Away
  • "Not Wearing Pants" Dream
  • Benevolent Boss
  • The Stoic
  • Driven to Suicide
  • Incurable Cough of Death
  • Oblivious to Love
  • Match Cut
  • Dramatic Thunder
  • Catapult Nightmare
  • It Always Rains at Funerals

12 of 18 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Character?"

Questions about Character

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Character?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Character from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 4 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Character worth watching?

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86 (IMDb 7.6 and Rotten Tomatoes 92%).

Will I feel good after watching Character?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is Character plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Character in English?

DutchEnglishFrenchGerman

No, it was made in Dutch, with some English, French, and German.