Frans Weisz
Born in 1938, in Amsterdam. He is a film and television director. He began his studies at the theatre school, but he quit after one year to go to the Amsterdam Film Academy. Then he was awarded a scholarship for the Italian film school Experimental Film Centre in Rome. He directed such feature films as RED SIEN (ROOIE SIEN, 1975), CHARLOTTE (1981), A HOT SUMMER NIGHT (EEN ZWOELE ZOMERAVOND, 1982), HAVINCK (1987), LEEDVERMAAK (1989), LAST CALL (HOOGSTE TIJD, 1995), QUI VIVE (2001), BOY ECURY (2003), HAPPY END (2009). He also directed TV series such as BIJ NADER INZIEN (1991), THE BETRAYED (OP AFBETALING, 1993), HET JAAR VAN DE OPVOLGING (1998).
Director’s statement
“A Christmas Film! I remember how I used to spend much of the Christmas season in the cinema with my mother, and how we were warm with emotion when witnessing that ‘the good’ in man ultimately triumphed, then walked home with a melancholy sense of joy. I’ve always wanted to make a film like that and Janneke van der Pal’s FINN offers the perfect opportunity. Friendship, jealousy, love, betrayal and death, and at the end of it all there is snow: a Christmas Film!”.
“In this film, playing with reality is essential. Finn’s mother died when he was born, but Finn is secretly keeping her alive by using her as a guide and confidante, through a photograph. One may think that it is all ‘in the eye of the beholder’, but for Finn it is a secret alliance between him and his mother”.
“Also, one might think the relationship and dialogue between Finn and his violin teacher Luuk was designed by Finn himself. Perhaps it’s Finn’s desire and passion, that stirs Luuk back to life and his existence is therefore only meaningful for Finn. But the miracle also takes possession of us. We, the spectators, hold Luuk close to our hearts. That is the magic and the power of a fairy tale: in our case a Christmas film”.
“Finally, I would like to emphasise how happy I am with Mels and his extraordinary talent! This started after seeing more than 300 children over a period of eighteen months, where in the very last audition, Mels sat down on a chair in front of me and I was rendered speechless. I knew with all my heart and being, that ‘Finn’ was sitting in front of me. This has ensured that there wasn’t a single day that I felt anxious or reluctant to enter the set”.
