De uitverkorene

The bleak atmosphere of the pietistic Reformed belief totally pervades this film: in the colour scheme, in the art direction (whitewashed brick walls indoors) and in the eyes of the protagonists. Their determined performances delineate a credible story about the two brothers Johan and Peter van der Laan, whose software company, once set up in a henhouse, has expanded into a billion-dollar concern. Johan, unshakable in belief and optimism, wants to float the company on the United States stock market. Peter knows that the company is a house of cards, but misses the courage to disrupt his brother's dream. He hires Steven, who recently graduated with distinction, as their financial director to enable the Nasdaq flotation. With the arrival of Steven on the Veluwe, the carefully controlled world of the two brothers and their families starts shifting. Double-crossing, faith, hope and love get entangled into an intriguing knot and someone will be left with the short end of the stick - or everyone.