Original subtitles

It depends on the day, to be fair.

Sometimes he's very talkative, sometimes he's not.

- Good morning, Ben. - Good morning.

Good morning. Does he ever get visitors?

His son lives in America, and since his wife died, not as many.

In any case, even on his best days, he only talks about one thing.

Hi, Kees, you have a visitor.

Hey, Kees.

Cold.

Yes.

Are we going into the field later?

What do you mean?

It's freezing.

Everything stays longer.

Maybe you missed something.

Traces.

I'll just call the province.

Kees, I have good news.

We've got him.

It's an exciting day for Griesbeek

where a public participation event will take place

about the permanent status of the asylum center.

The police expects a large turnout.

Sweetie.

It's 5:30 AM.

Shall I make coffee?

No.

You can stay in bed.

Hey, good morning.

Hey. Did you sleep well?

Giving me a paw? You're a good boy, such a good boy.

Where is your ball?

Where is the ball?

Oh, well.

Here.

Will you be nice to the missus?

Good. Yes, boy, nice, right?

Bye, sweetie.

Evert.

The small saw, please.

Asshole.

- Gentlemen. - Good morning.

- Good morning. - Good morning, Kees.

- Coffee. - Yes.

Look here.

Hello?

- Yes? - Hello.

Good morning, I have a meeting with the mayor here at nine o'clock

- but I don't think he's here yet. - He is, he just came in.

Come in.

- Mr. Vormer? - Just call me Kees.

Excuse me, I didn't recognize you.

That doesn't matter.

People often don't recognize me in that outer suit.

- Menno, a pleasure. - Kees.

- Hi. - Hi. Coffee?

Please.

- Can I have three cups of coffee? - Yes.

- There. - Thank you.

- Have a seat. - Yes.

Let's see, maybe a shot from here to there.

He was called the most undisputed mayor of the Northern provinces.

Villager, social democrat at heart, fanatical supporter of Cambuur

member of the local theater group.

Now, after 16 years as mayor, everything has changed.

Anneke Boorsma's murder, two years ago today,

has left deep wounds.

The asylum center threatens to cause division in the village.

Mayor Kees Vormer is clear in his view.

Come to solutions together and in dialogue.

Yes, hello.

Can I speak to van Verhoef of Internal Affairs?

- Mr. Vormer. - Just say Kees.

You have been mayor of Griesbeek and Kleiburgerland since 1985.

In the beginning just Griesbeek, later on we merged.

That was quite a hassle.

Since Anneke Boorsma's murder, you've been in the news every day.

That must be hard.

That's correct.

Do you ever feel like saying, "Whatever, I'm retiring"?

No, not at all.

- No? - No.

- Why not? - Why?

Why, that is a child's question.

This road

leading here, from my home to here, has a lot of trees.

Just trees. Have you seen them?

- No. - No? See for yourself later.

They're beautiful.

Those trees, they have to be pruned every year.

For 56 years already. I know that

because I planted those trees, together with my father.

I've lived here all my life. I do everything for this village.

Now that I'm needed most, I'm not going to walk away.

Is it wise to take in even more refugees?

Not more.

- No? - No. Not more, but permanently.

The asylum center gets a permanent status.

Okay, some people strongly oppose this.

Yes. That's why it's up to us to keep on clarifying and explaining.

I saved the best for last.

The council chamber, that's just...

There's a lot of history here.

Excuse me, Onno, I'm running a bit late.

I was told that we could meet in private, Kees.

Right, of course.

Just a minute, please.

Onno, tell me, how can I help you?

Kees, you must keep those refugees here.

Okay.

I understand everyone's emotions, but they get ten guilders a day.

They can only spend it in our village.

We put Turkish coffee on the menu.

Wait a minute.

You have those '"Vote no" posters hanging in the window, right?

What do you want me to do? To have my windows smashed?

You're the boss.

Tell that to my wife.

I'm not the boss, I'm the mayor, I am no dictator.

When you say something, they listen to you.

- Bring that up at the information night. - Just let that night go, Kees.

No one will speak there.

You just need to put your foot down and say that they're staying.

Half the village thinks very different from you.

Half the village thinks exactly like me,

but everyone's terrified of Lukas Boorsma's gang.

Come on, Onno. They have been through a lot.

You have to fix this, Kees.

I'll try my best.

Kees, can I have a word with you, too?

Yes, of course.

Just close the door.

The temporary asylum center should have been closed already.

THE END IS NEAR WILL YOU BE LEFT BEHIND?

But the city council has allowed it to remain open for the time being

and even wants a permanent asylum center.

The opponents, who have united in the group "No to the asylum center"

say the permanent center is being shoved down their throats.

The group threatens to take action

and gets support from several national political parties.

The festivities honoring the 75th anniversary...

Try not to get intimidated by what's going to happen.

NO TO THE ASYLUM CENTER

I don't know, Kees.

It's going to be packed?

- That's half the village. - And press.

There's speculation of riots, Lukas' friends have firebombs.

Those are just firecrackers. We used to stick those up frogs' butts.

They're just loud-mouthed monkeys.

If you let them speak, they're very sweet.

Of course, it's tense.

Of course.

It is a gruesome drama.

I know Anneke's family very well, they were friends.

You said "were"?

Yes.

A police spokesperson said last week

that the perpetrator might never be found.

Those were her words, I know they're working very hard.

But still, more refugees?

Why the refugees again? Just stop about those refugees.

It was definitely not a refugee.

How can you be so sure?

How do you know for sure it wasn't a local rich farmer?

You have to make sure I'm up first in the broadcast tonight.

No, just believe me, it's totally going to explode here.

See if you can get Pim Fortuyn in the studio.

Of course, so he can explain once again

that the Labor Party has lost connection with the people.

Yes? Okay, bye.

Can I ask you a question?

What do you think about the refugees?

I don't mind, but my dad really hates foreigners.

But he's half a Nazi anyway.

Everyone here is.

They're all Nazis.

What about you guys?

Well, some of them are fine, but they did kill Anneke.

Now they want more of them.

Are you going to the special information night later?

And then? Everything has already been decided anyway.

We might go to throw eggs at them.

- To contribute to the debate. - That's right.

That's right.

Last week, Mayor Kees van Toorn

was the star in a packed community center in the musical Edelweiss.

In his role as Johannes von Trapp,

he and his singing family fled Austria from the Nazis in 1939.

Well, Dad, here we go.

But tonight, the mayor plays for a completely different audience.

The question remains if he'll get applause as well.

Griesbeek is still peaceful at the moment.

But it's unsure if it'll stay this way.

The permanent stay of the asylum center

divides the residents of the already torn town.

- What's his name? Karwan? - Arzad.

- Arzad? - Right.

Whether you've explained it.

Sorry, but that's not what we agreed on.

- We were told we could have our say. - Of course you can.

I've heard anyone can have their say.

With all due respect, I don't think anyone's view is equally important.

We are willing to talk to everyone, but then we do want to be heard.

Of course you'll be heard.

I'm looking at tonight's program and I see, "Welcome speech by Kees."

Then Sonja from the asylum center. When are we up?

- Yes. - Where is Kees now?

He has an appointment.

- We're leaving. - Lukas.

- No. We're leaving, Dad. - Lukas, please.

Mr. Boorsma, you're leaving?

We tried to talk with the council several times to have our say.

If they don't want that, that's it. Have a good day.

Lukas.

Menno.

The meeting starts at 7:30 PM.

We want as many people as possible to attend.

Thank you.

My son, he was a suspect.

How do you say it? The vooroordelen?

- Yes? You're there too, Evert? - Yes.

Great, perfect.

Gerda. Please, I don't get you.

- I ran after them. - Who? Why?

- After Rinus and Lukas. - Why?

- They wanted to leave. - Where to?

Home, of course, I guess.

- Leave it. It's better this way. - Damn it.

Kees.

What exactly are we going to do, Kees?

We're going to Rinus Boorsma's house.

Do you think that you're still in control over this?

Why wouldn't I be in control anymore?

It's hard to have an information night without people.

Look. This, exactly this,

is a modern democracy in action.

Hi, Lukas. Could I have a word with you guys?

Okay, come in.

Dad, the mayor's here for you.

- Hi, Rinus. - Hi, Kees.

I heard that you came by, but that you had left.

I think that we've been very clear about our wishes.

If we're not being heard,

we'll just stay at home.

Of course, you're free to stay at home if that's what you want.

The thing is that if you stay home, the rest of the village will, too.

- That's none of our business. - Well, I do think so, a little.

It's just about money, guys.

For the village.

Everyone has to deal with this, the middle class of Griesbeek.

They all agree with us.

Is that right? I didn't know that.

It simply doesn't fit, Kees.

Rinus.

What if I were to ask you...

What needs to happen for you to come back? To at least listen?

Lukas wants to speak first at the gathering.

If you let him do that, I'll be there.

It's easy.

That's fine.

I'll see you later.

Bye, Rinus.

Bye, Kees.

Will you show him out?

Yes, I have two.

- Fenna. - Hi.

Making an omelet today, guys?

Eggs are sold out today.

Sold out.

Kees.

If the police are worried and everyone says to leave it...

Then what?

I should leave it?

Do you know what I'm afraid of?

That they'll remember me for one thing later.

Which is that I've fucked it all up.

You didn't mess up.

Even so, you're so much more than just Anneke Boorsma.

Trust me, they'll name streets and schools after you here.

Hey, Kees.

Kees, come on.

STOP THE POLITICAL PEDOPHILE NETWORK

May I ask? What is this?

We exercise our right to freedom of expression.

We demonstrate against

the secret satanic pedophile network in northern Netherlands.

- Mrs. Boorsma, one question? - Dinie won't comment.

You are a state-regulated propaganda channel from the Bildergroep.

That's what you are. Get out of here.

- Leave. - Okay. Weirdo.

Ladies and gentlemen, don't worry.

I'm not going to sing or dance tonight.

It's great that you're attending this special information night

in such large numbers, but as promised,

I would like to give the floor to the Boorsma family first.

Hello.

We'd like to have one minute of silence.

For Anneke.

My sister.

Your fellow villager...

who was violently killed just down the road.

By a still-unknown perpetrator.

Thank you.

- Hey. - Hey. Table for five?

No, I was wondering if you still have eggs.

- Eggs? - Yes.

- Egg Foo Young. - No, not a dish.

- Just a box, one box of eggs. - At the supermarket?

- They don't sell them. - We just want eggs.

How many do you want?

Five guilders each.

Fifteen.

No, Kees. That's not what I'm asking.

Why were all the clues that pointed to the asylum center rejected immediately?

- Right. - That's not true.

- It's not? - No, that's not true at all.

In the first few weeks after the murder, we focused all the investigation

on that Ferhad, among others, that boy who was in Turkey.

Of whom we can all remember

that in cooperation with the Turkish police,

we arrested that boy with a great show of force

and brought him to the Netherlands.

When it was proven beyond any doubt that the boy was innocent,

- then we let him go. - Beyond any doubt?

Yes. I want to get back to the point.

I would like to emphasize,

and I understand that you have questions,

and I understand you have emotions,

but we've gathered here tonight to talk about

the permanent status of the asylum center.

Not to talk about Anneke Boorsma's murder.

No, because you still can't find the perpetrator.

Yes, exactly.

- Exactly. - Thank you so much.

Thanks, that's enough. Enough, thanks.

No. What's going on?

He's worried because the people are a bit noisy.

Come on, I'll help you.

Keep this distance.

Hey, Fenna.

Dad?

Hi.

What are you up to?

- I... - Have you gone mad?

Jesus, come. We'll go around the back.

He can stay.

If even Azad thinks so, why didn't you do anything?

- Right. - Wake up.

Keep your sign up.

We're here to talk about what my people add to the community.

- You can still answer, right? - Right.

I just want to say that I find it quite remarkable

that I know that there are people who visited Kees this morning

to beg for the center to stay

and were at Rinus' house that same afternoon

- to express they're opposing this. - Don't say this.

Who?

Who came by this morning to ask that?

- I don't know - Well? Who?

Who came by this morning?

- Lukas, that's pointless. - Well?

I'd love to have names if those people were at our home.

You know what? Fine.

Let's make it a bit clearer anyway, right?

Yes. Everyone who supports the center take place on that side.

Everyone who's opposing, on this side. Well? Come on.

Well? Let's go. Then it's clear.

- I just want to say... - What?

I think it's scandalous what is happening here.

No, I live here, too.

Isn't this pure fascism?

- Fascism, really? - Yes.

- We shouldn't let this happen here. - Really?

Well, then you are the first to sit here.

Stop this! Enough, stop it!

Sit down, just sit down. Go.

What kind of disgusting display is this?

We need to take a good look at ourselves.

We've experienced something awful, all of us, as a community.

The family, even worse. Much worse.

We are a village.

A village.

A small village, but such a lovely village.

We're there to take care of each other, to help each other.

Not to point fingers, saying, "It was them.

"It was them. Quickly, close the shutters."

Even if you'd want it to be that way, it just isn't.

We knew the morning after the murder that it was not a refugee.

The camera at the door of the asylum center

had registered that everyone was inside before midnight.

It's that simple. That simple.

You may want it to be, but that's not the way it is.

It's just not like that.

- I want to ask one more question. - Menno, please.

We'll have a survey later, everyone can ask questions.

Why Turkey then?

If you were sure the day after the murder that it wasn't a refugee,

then why go to Turkey with a great of show of force?

Could be...

Guys...

Help me out. About Turkey.

- Right. - Why?

Well, of course, you keep an open mind.

- And... - That's not right.

Kees said that camera footage showed that they were inside.

If you knew that, then I assume you saw that Ferhad was in his bed.

So why did you still go to Turkey with a huge force two months later?

- A huge force? Just a unit. - You said a great show of force.

If you saw that it couldn't have been Ferhad

or anyone from the asylum center,

why the hell did you go to Turkey? You even held a press conference.

Because they're trying to fool us.

They go after a refugee, so we'll be quiet for some time.

One month later, he's released.

They want to hide the real perpetrator.

- You wanted us to arrest someone. - You?

- Yes, you. - You?

- We did it to please you crazies. - Oh, crazy?

What is this...

What's happening here?

- A smoke bomb. - Do it.

This is how an almost 20-year-mayorship ends.

Not with flowers and a playground named after you,

but with disorder, discomfort and violence.

A sign for the Labor Party perhaps, a significant image.

Has this party not withdrawn itself too much in its ivory tower?

Did they lose the connection with the people?

You tell us.

It has become clear that something has snapped here tonight,

maybe forever.

Is that okay?

You just can't picture it. It went the way I expected.

Rinus?

I...

There's something.

Griesbeek's main problem is the excessive political thinking

of the policy makers.

You can't talk about being displeased with refugees

because that gets dismissed as discrimination.

But the facts don't lie.

Eighty percent of the refugees are not fleeing from their country,

but are here for economical and plain criminal motives.

There's a lush trade in stolen goods in the asylum centers.

I've seen it myself during a work visit.

They are dealing hard drugs and there's human trafficking.

The police know about that,

but they hide those facts in the statistics.

Individually, they are just nice people.

If you just speak with them, they are at their best.

Then when they're brought together in a mob, then...

I don't know.

Something happens.

They turn into monsters.

Kees...

I would say...

don't give up just yet.

BEST MAYOR OF NORTHERN NETHERLANDS

From the Boerenbond?

He was an ordinary farmer.

With his Opel Kadett?

He lived close to Nienke de Weerd.

Of us?

- One of us. - I have to go, Kees.

Yes. One of us.

Subtitle translation by: Laura Oplaat