The West Lusaka Man

Poignant account of the vain attempts by Roel Goossen's parents to get their son, who was sentenced to death, released and sent to Holland. Since 2001, the adventurer has been behind bars in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, for murdering a young woman. Director Walter Stokman follows his parents and their lawyer, as during visits to the scene of the calamity, but also tries to find out the facts of the matter. This turns out to be an impossible task: there is hardly any proof and witnesses contradict each other. Through interviews with the bravely fighting parents and excerpts from letters Roel wrote, the nightmare that the family is in becomes tangible. It is amazing to see the candour with which his parents and brother discuss the less positive sides of their beloved, who used to be 'a gaunt chap' who wanted to make himself felt, first with the green berets and later in Zambia. His attempt to make a lot of money by selling alcoholic mixed drinks fell through. Still, his parents believe he is innocent, while Stokman does not choose sides.