What? Sex in Amsterdam? Who knew?
Why is this raising a ruckus? Common sense dictates that people should know the culture of the country to which they seek to relocate.
The camera focuses on two gay men kissing in a park. Later, a topless woman emerges from the sea and walks onto a crowded beach. For would-be immigrants to the Netherlands, this film is a test of their readiness to participate in the liberal Dutch culture.
If they can’t stomach it, no need to apply.
Despite whether they find the film offensive, applicants must buy a copy and watch it if they hope to pass the Netherlands’ new entrance examination.
Dutch theologian Karel Steenbrink criticized the 105-minute movie, saying it would be offensive to some Muslims.
“With all the respect I have for all religions, I think people need to understand that Holland has its own liberal side as well,” [filmmaker Walter Goverde] said.
After viewing the film, which is available in most languages, applicants are then quizzed on important Dutch factoids such as the number of provinces that make up the Netherlands; the role played by William of Orange in the country’s history; and Queen Beatrix’s monarchial functions.
I don’t think the Dutch need to spend there time making another film with gays and naked ladies did they? I am sure they could have used some ‘stock’ clips.
It’s not so much the idea of the entrance exam, its the way they have implimented it.
Once you look into that it becomes clear that it’s more about targeting a specific group of people (Turkish Immigrants), rather than general immigration issues.
Nice idea, destroyed by bigotry and stupidity.
Gregory, reference your post, please. I saw nothing in the article that seems to target Turks.
Um…where’s the movie? I’d like to…um…watch it to see if I qualify to live in the Netherlands.
They have a link in the story, yet it just goes to another story so it’s quite misleading to have a link of “this film is a test”.
Link to the film please. Purely for research purposes of course.
To Scott Gant:
I was going to say something but you have said it much better than I would :3
This is horrible. You shouldn’t have to watch gay men kissing or see nudity to pass an entrance exam into a country. That’s insane.
I’m sorry but this is liberal and as so is biased. I don’t see a right winged or indepenent opinion in that description. It’s a liberal movie and you shouldn’t have to be a liberal to enter a freakin’ country.
I applaud the idea of preparing people for the culture of the country to which they are *requesting* citizenship. Many years ago Hughes Aircraft moved many of its Southern California facilities to Tucson, Arizona. In many of the “preparation” meetings, they prepared people for the fact that it is perfectly legal to carry a gun in Arizona. If a person found that practice offensive, they always had the choice to not make the move. The Dutch are telling potential immigrants in a very frank manner, if you find sexual openess offensive then perhaps The Netherlands is not the best country for you and you should look elsewhere.
“Being a Dutch guy, now living for almost 10 years in North America, I know that I was surprised how many things were different here. Things you took for granted and normal (prostitution, abortion, gay rights) are no longer normal. I could have used a North American movie like this….”
Richard– Nice point ! 🙂
Thrall
Then don’t move to the Netherlands. This is exactly what the movie is intended to do.
re: my comment relating to Turks. No there’s nothing in the article about it, I was commenting on the other issues around this particular exam. The questionare for example.
This article is hardly the be all and end all of comment on the issue.
just two comments: 1st to Thrall:
You just need to see it in a film because you are bound to see it live. This is not a test you would do to get a job or something like that. It´s a test to see if you are apt to accept the ways of a society you are about to enter.
2nd to Gregory:
Why Turks?, why not Ethiopians, Lybians, North Americans or Jews? I think it´s aimed at individuals and not at cultures (of course it would conflict with ones more than others, I´ll give you that.). Just for the sake of argument, what kind of film should Saudi Arabia (for instance) present and what kind of issues we as westerners would have with it….
It´s a vast an culturally different world. Just don´t look at it from your balcony.