Bracha van Doesburgh
Bodil Backer
Overview
Using each other as alibis, two friends sneak off to indulge in secret affairs — but their elaborate web of lies unravels when one of them goes missing.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Alibi as a Mirror
I’ve always been drawn to thrillers that don’t just ask whodunit, but why we lie—to others, to ourselves, in the quiet moments when no one’s watching. Faithfully Yours (or Double Vice, as it was originally titled) promises exactly that: a story of two friends using each other as alibis for their secret affairs, only for the arrangement to collapse when one of them vanishes.
The premise is ripe with tension, the kind that should coil around your ribs and squeeze. Yet somewhere along the way, the film loses its grip. Not because it lacks ambition, but because it never quite decides what kind of lie it wants to tell.
André van Duren, the director, has made a career out of crime-adjacent stories—his 2014 film The Gang was a heist drama, and you can feel the ghost of that genre here, lurking in the margins. But Faithfully Yours isn’t a heist. It’s a moral puzzle, one where the pieces keep shifting under your fingers.
The problem isn’t the setup; it’s the execution. The film wants to be a Hitchcockian exercise in suspense, but it keeps tripping over its own feet, as if it’s afraid to commit to the darkness it’s unearthed.
Take the central relationship between the two leads, played by Bracha van Doesburgh and Nasrdin Dchar. Their dynamic is the film’s beating heart—or at least, it should be. They’re lawyers, which is a nice touch: people who make a living bending the truth, who know how to construct a narrative that holds up in court.
Audience Opinions
Audience 4.9/10
"A Dutch thriller with potential, held back by weak execution and uninspired storytelling."
The film attempts a gripping mystery-thriller, but the plot is predictable and the pacing uneven. The cast is solid, yet it feels underwhelming next to similar films in the genre and lacks the depth and originality to stand out.
What viewers praise
- Solid cast performances The leads, including Bracha van Doesburgh and Nasrdin Dchar, bring their characters to life.
- Stylish presentation The visual tone and direction give the thriller setup some polish.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot Familiar thriller tropes make the twists easy to guess early on.
- Weak pacing Uneven pacing: some scenes drag while others rush key developments.
- Lack of originality Brings no fresh ideas to the thriller genre, which makes it forgettable.
Recommended for
Dutch thriller enthusiasts Fans of Bracha van Doesburgh Casual mystery viewers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Faithfully Yours: A Dutch Thriller’s Rise to Recognition
Faithfully Yours (2022), the Dutch thriller directed by André van Duren, has quietly become a standout in the Netherlands’ film scene. Starring Bracha van Doesburgh and Elise Schaap, the movie blends suspense with a twisty narrative, earning attention both domestically and on streaming platforms like Netflix. While details about its production remain sparse, latestnetflix.com maintains, the film’s reception and accolades offer a glimpse into its journey from script to screen.
A Director’s Signature Style
André van Duren, a veteran Dutch filmmaker, brings a wealth of experience to Faithfully Yours. Known for projects like Mariken (2000) and The Gang of Oss (2011), van Duren has a knack for blending drama with tension, a skill evident in this thriller. Though the evidence doesn’t reveal specific inspirations behind Faithfully Yours, van Duren’s filmography suggests a preference for character-driven stories with moral ambiguity—likely a key factor in shaping the movie’s tone.
Cast Chemistry and Critical Buzz
The film’s ensemble cast, led by van Doesburgh and Schaap, has drawn praise for their performances. Their on-screen dynamic was strong enough to earn Faithfully Yours a Gouden Film (Golden Film) award in the Netherlands, a recognition given to movies that sell over 100,000 tickets. While the snippet doesn’t detail the ceremony’s highlights, the award underscores the film’s commercial success in its home country.
Critically, reactions have been mixed. On SensCritique, a French review aggregator, the movie holds a modest 4.9/10 rating from 216 votes, with users classifying it as a thriller. Rotten Tomatoes lists the cast but offers no score or consensus, leaving its critical standing somewhat ambiguous. The lack of widespread international reviews suggests Faithfully Yours may have flown under the radar outside the Netherlands, though its Netflix availability has expanded its reach.
Streaming Success and Spoiler Culture
Netflix’s involvement appears to have been a turning point for Faithfully Yours. Trailers and reviews on the platform, including a Hindi-language breakdown, hint at a global audience discovering the film. YouTube is awash with spoiler-heavy content, from full breakdowns to trailer reactions, indicating the movie’s twist-driven plot has resonated with viewers seeking suspense. However, without access to full reviews, it’s unclear whether the twists are seen as clever or convoluted.
Unanswered Questions
Despite its accolades, Faithfully Yours leaves several behind-the-scenes details in the dark. There’s no evidence about the film’s budget, shooting locations, or challenges faced during production. Rumors about on-set dynamics or directorial choices remain unconfirmed, as the available snippets focus on cast, awards, and streaming reception. For now, the movie’s legacy seems tied to its ability to deliver a tight, binge-worthy thriller—even if its backstory remains a mystery.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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