Het Mysterie van de Sardine

Tim Boerhave, a philosophy lecturer, loses his legs in a bomb attack. Who is responsible? The last image before the explosion is that of a large black dog with a sardine tin attached to its collar, jumping up against the kitchen door. For Tim, the question of who did it is less urgent than the question of why. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. He can't think of any reason why he was targeted. While his house is being rebuilt, he and his family retreat to a quiet family hotel to recover. Day and night, he locks himself in his hotel room. He is obsessed with mapping out what preceded the explosion on that fateful morning. Who is the perpetrator? Why is Tim the victim?

Directed by Erik van Zuylen, Het Mysterie van de Sardine leans on a strong ensemble — Victor Löw, Hans Dagelet, Kitty Courbois — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2005.