EGG Movie Review

Ei

The problem with movies that run less than an hour is that it's very difficult for them to get adequate distribution. The public tends to feel they're being ripped off if they see something as short as Egg (58 minutes) and so the movie has to be paired with a short. The short may be good, but it's perceived as filler—the audience resents this and is in a foul mood by the time the feature comes on. All of this is assuming the picture lands in a theatre at all, which is iffy at best. In the case of Egg, that's tragic, because this is delicate and elegant little gem of a movie that deserves a wide audience. Directed and written by Danniel Danniel for Dutch television, it's the story of a quiet, emotionally vulnerable middle-aged baker (Johan Leyson) who responds to a lonelyhearts ad in the personals column. The ad was placed by a teacher (Marijke Veugelers), and she's intrigued enough by the response to continue the correspondence. As the day for her visit to the baker's little village grows near, the tension and anticipation become remarkably strong, and we feel there's a lot at stake here. Miracles happen, but not always. Egg is perfect at its 58-minute length. It needs no chaser—just an audience.

NEXT STOP … Combination Platter, Dragon Chow, Sugarbaby

1988 58m/C NL Johan Leysen, Marijke Veugelers; D: Danniel Danniel; W: Danniel Danniel. VHS, LS KIV,LUM