Rent-A-Friend

You may have noticed I refer to quite a lot of cultural material. However, I would argue it is one thing to merely retell or quote – and quite another to illustrate, juxtapose and use.

But today I have nothing to offer regarding the story of one of my favourite movies, a relatively new one coming from Holland called Rent-A-Friend. Other than, that is, the fact that it sheds some light on the elusive difference between me and Westerners.

(Let's leave that for some other time, together with my absolute all-time favourite, 81/2 by Fellini, if nothing – because of the final scene where the protagonist dances in a circle on the beach with anyone he has ever met.)

Anyway, the movie is a light comedy with the theme that people are getting alienated more and more, giving the never-do-good hero the chance to start renting himself to people – as a friend. This way, the film is given the chance to present an array of people with different reasons for needing friends: e.g., the Dutch guy who supports the German football team, the jealous husband etc.

The final twist occurs when the scheme is so successful that an international company is set up, with its logos on city buses, and marketing managers who introduce a low-budget version of an acquaintance. So, for €5, someone says hi to you on the street.

Hard to get by, but a must!