I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

So. Most people start there review about how they liked or disliked the movie. I won't. I had the pleasure of being at the kick-off meeting of 'the other side of the heart is white' (which at the time had no name) at Nirint Shipping. In that meeting we spoke about the possibilities we had for a movie about Feyenoord and its supporters. Both Brandon Baan and Leonardo Pansier were full with ideas for production and we had lots of fun at that meeting. To be honest, and they will hear of this for the first time while reading this review, I thought; Awesome idea but they will never. EVER. Pull this off. Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!!In my lifetime I watched almost all Top 250 IMDb movies, and then some. I think that as a movie-lover I have earned the right to say "The Other Side of The Heart is White" is something else! It's a great mixture of a feel- good movie and a documentary. The movie is build out of one red-wire and four totally different characters that show us the love and the pain people endure being a Feyenoord-fan. It shows real passion and real tears. Real joy and real anger. For me this movie is all about the pleasure I find at being a football-supporter, but the movie also gives a real take on the rich culture the city of Rotterdam has to offer. To me it's a perfect combination of the club and city which stole my heart.Now I hear you say, "mate, be honest with me"… sure I'm looking at this movie through red/white coloured glasses. But I can see this movie has its flaws. For people who expect to see a Hollywood kind-a movie, or a BBC documentary: You will not have a good time watching this! What are you expecting? With a main team of two lads this movie supersedes all I ever dreamt it could be. There are tiny errors in editing and the shots themselves sometimes clearly show that this is not a big-production movie. Some scenes even feel like shot in Dogma 95 style. To some that may be somewhat irritating, to me it shows this movie is about real people in real situations. To me those flaws is what makes this movie special. For a small-time production's first time: I can forgive them, so should you!!Final line: Watching this movie is like attending a Feyenoord-game at De Kuip: Expect everything and you will be sadly mistaken. Expect the unexpected. Expect nothing and get all you ever need. I can't say this enough: This movie superseded all my expectations. It's not perfect, but neither is Feyenoord. It's a great watch for all those who love the game or those who don't understand what loving a football-club is all about.

Last night I had the pleasure to attend the sold out premiere of this documentary at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Due to being a resident of Rotterdam and a (not so fanatical) supporter of Feyenoord, I looked forward to this film although I didn't really know what to expect. It turned out to be an impressive piece of movie art with a red and white heart indeed. The director is Leonardo Pansier, a former Feyenoord hooligan, wrongly convicted in the past for the killing of a supporter of Ajax during a massive battle, which took place in a field alongside a highway in Beverwijk 1997. After Leonardo did his jail time he ran a tattoo shop but remained affiliated with the hardcore Feyenoord supporters. About two and a half years ago he got the idea to convey the essence of being a Feyenoord supporter to the big screen. To realize this, Leonardo gave up everything he had and teamed up with the very young and talented editor Brandon Baan. In this documentary we follow four dedicated Feyenoord supporters of different stature; a CEO of a shipping company, a young mother and her son, a former baseball champion, and an anesthesiologist during the last days of his terminally ill friend, who is also a Feyenoord supporter.This documentary may not be everyone's cup of tea, as some people just don't relate to supporting a football club and the camaraderie that comes with it. In the case of Feyenoord it also means scarce success and mostly suffering, which somehow has it's own beauty. If you do recognize the above, and can also appreciate Rotterdam's modern but rugged architecture, this film will not disappoint. Also, the scenes shot from inside Feyenoord's stadium "the Kuip", during various matches are beautiful and capture the supporter's energy, which is especially intense during the match against Feyenoord's biggest rival: Ajax.Besides the amazing shots, done with only semi-professional camera's (which explains some shakiness and grainy quality), the music score is well chosen and manages to create just the right vibe.Film maker Leonardo stars in the final scene and gives away a strong speech, which gives this documentary even more depth and actually makes you think. During the end credits the audience gave a standing ovation and almost everybody remained seated during the whole q&a attended by both the director and editor. Leonardo succeeded in his goal, creating a sublime insight in what it means to be a Feyenoord supporter!