Tangier

March. 15,2006      
Rating:
7.1
Trailer Synopsis Cast

In August 1996, bus drivers Marcel Van Loock and Wim Moreels are apprehended by the Moroccan Customs for drug trafficking. Inside their bus, hidden behind a false compartment, they have discovered 700 pounds of hashish. Although the owner of the bus company is arrested as well and makes a full confession clearly indicating that both drivers were unaware of the hidden drugs, the Moroccan judge sentences both men to 5 years in the Moroccan prison of Tangiers. Nothing could have prepared the two men for life inside a Moroccan prison. Without food, clothes or medical care, they must learn how to take care of themselves to survive their stay in prison. Corrupt guards, corrupt lawyers and judges, a consul who doesn't care and frequent beatings are only part of the terrible prison. Meanwhile their families at home are left without any information, any help or any hope - finding out that their own government doesn't care for Belgian people in prisons abroad.

Filip Peeters as  Marcel Van Loock
Peter Gorissen as  Rudy Vermeersch
Warre Borgmans as  Jozef Van Zuylen
Els Olaerts as  Agnes Van Loock
Peter Bolhuis as  Jack Scholten
Axel Daeseleire as  Wim Moreels

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Reviews

Karry
2006/03/15

Best movie of this year hands down!

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CommentsXp
2006/03/16

Best movie ever!

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Glucedee
2006/03/17

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

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Calum Hutton
2006/03/18

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

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dignaf
2006/03/19

I nearly cried when I finally reached to the end of this movie, Marcel is the focus of the movie, but his family, which had done so much for him to rescue him made me shocked. This movie was said to be adapted partly from the truth in 1996, if it is, the ....prison life in Morocco is really ... horrific. The attitude of the Government makes people feel disappointed. Marcel survived finally because he has his wife and daughter and his brother in law and all the people who have conscience with in their hearts support him. Rudy's end is a pity. I debt whether Marcel could have been survived from the hard beginning of his jail life if he had never met Rudy. whatever inside or outside jail, people who in their life can find such a good friend, and survived from such bad situation could be so called the lucky ones. Anyway, a very good movie, and very good movie music. All the elements in this film tell me to treasure my current life.

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b014422
2006/03/20

Although I'm Belgian I'm not a big fan of our movies. Mostly they look indeed as TV-movies and as we live in a pretty small country, you almost see always the same actors appearing.I hesitated before watching this movie. But after all I'm very pleased with the result. It's not the new 'midnight express' but ' De hel van Tanger' is based on a true story which shocked a greater part of Belgium.They used the bigger actors in our country to make this movie worth while and they did a good job. (Nice to know; the movie was shoot in reverse. Because the character of Herman van Loock had to lose 35 kg.)It might not win an Oscar, but I rate this movie a 7 because it's rather realistic and includes some good acting. If you like these types of movie or you are familiar with the 'real Herman van Loock' I would recommend it!

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slake09
2006/03/21

I had high hopes for this movie, I really did. I'm a big fan of the "Drug Smuggler Caught in Foreign Prison" genre, such as it is. Unfortunately, it does look like a made for TV movie - there aren't any risks taken with the genre here.Although you want to see the poor, imprisoned bus driver get out, you have to wonder why he keeps antagonizing the guards and his fellow inmates. My sympathy for him ended there; I couldn't see myself arguing with the guards in a Moroccan prison. There are probably healthier ways to spend your time.Check out Brokedown Palace or Midnight Express instead.

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Adeir
2006/03/22

De Hel van Tanger is already the third movie of the six originally made for TV movies to get a big screen release, after Verlengd Weekend and Dennis van Rita. Taken into account that wasn't supposed to play in theaters, it delivers quite well. The story is rather cliché, as are most of the characters, mainly the "evil" ones. What makes the whole sit-in worth is Filip Peeters' excellent performance as the unfortunate bus driver Marcel Van Loock. Yes, he went through great physical lengths to depict the downfall of a lively jolly middle-aged man, hats off. But when you see the startling gaze in his eyes when he hears the conviction, like saying "Come on, guys, you got to be kidding me?", you really hope he makes it back in one piece. When he eventually does and takes his grandson on his lap, I felt actual warmth for the guy. Doesn't happen often. Nice one, Filip.

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