Lucia de B. is a Dutch foreign language film based on real-life events from one the most gripping court cases ever in the Netherlands.
The film follows the narrative of the Lucia de Berk case, in which de Berk was sentenced to life imprisonment for 7 counts of murder and 3 counts of attempted murder during her time as a pediatric nurse.
Today the case is widely seen as one of the most controversial cases in Dutch history and touches on many topics surrounding the Dutch justice system and the affects the media can have on cases.
Synopsis
As described above Lucia de B. is a film that is based on the famous de Berk case.
It tells the story from the point of view of the defense attorney of de Berk, who like many believe that she is guilty. Already with their minds made up the DA makes attempts to prove that de Berk is a psychopath, therefore nulling all of the claims from the prosecution.
The film follows the DA as she discovers all of the intricacies and complexities of the case. As time passes emotion, stress and public outcry intensify which push the film into a hysteria-filled state.
The reminder of the film follows the DA the viewer dives deep into de Berk's past, where evidence is uncovered which may prove her innocence.
The film, which is both chilling and entertaining, brings everything together for a very dramatic finale.
Important Themes
Lucia de B. is quite a unique film in that it focuses on a real-life case and sticks to the investigative information accurately.
The de Berk case is still one of the most infamous and documented cases in European history. It is an example of a case that was heavily swayed by the media and public opinion.
In 2003, de Berk was sentenced to life imprisonment after the case was scrutinized by many worldwide. It received massive international news coverage due to the severity of the claims. Which led to de Berk's own lawyers dismissing her claims and believing her as a cold-blooded murderer.
The case remained to be a controversial topic for years. With many notable scholars, scientists and journalists openly questioning different areas of the criminal investigation on television.
In 2004, de Berk attempted an appeal and was convicted of the seven murders and three murder attempts. In 2008, her case was reopened by the Dutch Supreme Court as new facts were uncovered which resulted in her case being re-tried. Which led to her subsequent exoneration in 2010.
Today the case still remains to be one of the most contested example of a miscarriage of justice seen in recent history.
Furthermore Lucia de B. also did a tremendous job mimicking the almost trance-like atmosphere of the case. As well as focusing on how certain cases can grab international attention both for it's own benefit and hindrance.
In recent times, there have been many similar cases which have gained enormous popularity and have been referred to as a miscarriage of justice.
Some of which include the South African Oscar Pistorius murder case, the Amanda Knox Italian-American murder case, the murder of American teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba (which even has a TV show now) and the Canadian Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka Case.
All of which had massive media interest resulting in huge popular culture attention, public outcry and dispute over the years.
Conclusion
Altogether Lucia de B. is an outstanding film which keeps you on the edge of your seat, or couch for that matter.
The film succeeds in telling a gripping story and holds relatively close to facts. All while maintaining a somber and intoxicating mood thanks to some stunning visuals throughout its 97 minute runtime.
Lucia de B. is film you won't want to forget.
It is a smart film with strong lead performances. Guiding you down a road riddled with psychological twists, turns and thrills.
