Luger

24-year-old Van Gogh, who had been rejected by the Filmacademie [Dutch film school] a number of times, wanted to make a film reminiscent of Herzog, Fassbinder and Schlöndorff’s work: contrary and alienating. And as politically incorrect as possible. There were a plethora of complaints immediately after the release of his upstart gangster home movie Luger, particularly about the scene featuring two cats in a washing machine. This scene was also screened during the VPRO youth programme Neon, after which countless of the broadcasters’ supporters ended their financial support.