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Losing Track
14 minutes | Family | 2006 | 
Netherlands
The nightmare begins when 'workaholic' Frank loses track of his daughter during a train ride to his ex wife.
SynopsisCharlotte (9) and Frank, her father arrive at the railway station. Frank is to return Charlotte to her mother, his ex-wife. When a train arrives, Frank and Charlotte hesitantly board it. Frank is ill at ease due to the chaos at the poetry festival he organizes and he would prefer to avoid confronting his ex-wife because he will be late. Frank goes to the men’s room in order to get some water to help swallow his tranquilizing tablets. Upon his return, Charlotte has vacated her seat. Frank traverses the train and inquires with several passengers whether they’ve seen his little daughter. None of them remembers having laid eyes on her and Frank starts to distrust everyone but himself. The people from the poetry festival keep bothering him and in the mean time the train is driving progressively faster. On top of that, it seems to be riding in circles. He thinks he sees Charlotte again and runs after her. A child’s chocolate hand imprint on the train door makes him conclude that his daughter has fallen off the train. Grief stricken, he uses his cell phone to call his ex-wife Ellen. Ellen doesn’t understand what’s wrong. Charlotte is with her, waiting for her dad to pick her up. Then we find ourselves looking at the miniature train she's playing with. It’s riding around in circles. We recognize the little railway station and details of the scenery. Charlotte looks up at her mum, smiling in a somewhat sinister way..
Director's StatementThe nice thing about the surrealist genre is that there remains so much to talk about after the film’s final credits. Many things can be explained in more than one way. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that the filmmaker couldn’t decide on what story to tell, but rather that he chooses to play with the notion that things aren’t always what you think they are. What is going on and who has got something to do with it? Often, the audience is just as much in the dark as the main character(s). As is tradition in this genre, in Losing Track’s final minute imagination and reality seem to be completely intertwined. Frank’s train ride has become a nightmare and he uses his cell phone to try and make contact with the sane world. Ellen picking up the phone is real, so Frank can’t be dreaming... Ellen opens the blinds and all-of-a-sudden night changes into day in Frank’s world... Charlotte hasn’t gone out, but has been waiting for hours for her dad to come and pick her up. So everything was merely a dream? That’d be too simple.
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Directed by
Jacco Groen -
Written by
Jacco Groen -
Produced by
Jos van der Pal
Written by: Jacco Groen
Produced by: Jos van der Pal
Cast
train conductor: Jan Sepersold lady: Aat de Waay
Charlotte: Lisette Livingstone
mother: Tine Joustra
Frank: George van Houts
girl in wheel chair: Fanny Croone
Crew
title designer: Dennis van Schie, CoArt CGIspecial effects creator: Arjen Weijers, CoArt CGI
sound mixer: Bart Jilesen
runner: Niel Duran
production assistants: Sanne Mulder, Rogier van der Voort
set dressers: Cortine Overwater, Sergio Blankendal
additional casting: Elske
casting director: Edith Hazelebach
make-up artist: Suzanne Pelgrim
costume designer: Toos de Vos
art director: Ben Zuydwijk
lighting technicians: Ferry Rooyakkers, Danny Maas
gaffer: Maarten van der Pluijm
grip: Peter van Vught
clapper/loader: Floris van der Lee
focus puller: Nina da Costa
steadycam operator: Patrick van Weeren
first A.D.: Arjen Slings, Thomas Rohde
production manager: Esther Thedinga
composer: Danny Weijermans
editor: Boelie Vis, Filmmore
sound designer: Max Frick, Soundpalette
director of photography: Peterjan van der Burgh
producer: Jos van der Pal
writer, director: Jacco Groen
model builder: Hanno Groen
continuity: Wikje van Ritbergen
supervisor to Miss Livingstone: Elisabeth Hesemans
video assist: Jonathan Kuijs
location managers: Vincent Sparacino, Marcel Dekker, Rinus de Bart
catering: De Goederenloods
additional location scouting: Marion Vredeling
still photographer: Ivanka Bakker
props: Inez de Zwart
Action On Film International Film Festival
Bearfest - Big Bear Lake International Film Festival
Nederlands Film Festival
Santiago International Short Film Festival
Rotterdam International Film Festival
Rouen Nordic Film Festival
Osnabrück Film Festival (Osnabrück, Germany)
Münster Film Festival
Kerala International Film Festival
Festival CineRail (Paris)
The works of the Belgian painter Paul Delvaux constitute a major source of inspiration when it comes to the film's imagery. The night and evening skies in his paintings are often of a dark violet, with a bright moon. Women in classical attire in conspicuous locations, quite often railway stations, mindlessly staring. As if they’re waiting. Not engaged in any activity whatsoever. The film's sound may gradually suggest cyclic motion to its audience. A tunnel – the bells of a railway crossing – switching the points – a station – a tunnel and so on. This will become evident during the film’s climax, when the train is in top gear.
Lead actor George van Houts is a successful Dutch comedian.
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Director
Jacco Groen
