[e-mail] Review of Tirza

Tirza (2010)

Spend time in the company of true beauty, and the terror of loss.

[10/10 · 14 July 2020]

A real Dutch Master, that wouldn't have worked without the Namibian girl, this film keeps you guessing. Jorgen, a recently forced to retire book editor, goes to Namibia, to search for his younger daughter, who has not been heard from for three weeks. This is a study of a middle aged Dutchman destroyed by life, and the little Namibian Shanty town girl who reaches out to him, touching his soul in a way that only she can. Gijs Scholten van Aschat is perfect as the deeply flawed and troubled Jorgen, who is grounded and loved by nine year old Kaisa, played breathtakingly, and flawlessly, by Keitumetse Matlabo. Matlabo is a true talent, apparently brand new to the screen.