It’s a wrap for Public Works. The last shooting days of Public Works (OT: Publieke Werken) took place in the Netherlands last weeks. The major part of the film was shot in Hungary in October and November – where in an enormous studio a unique film set of the Prins Hendrikkade and the Victoria Hotel was constructed.
Public Works is based on the award winning bestseller Publieke Werken, written by Thomas Rosenboom – that won the 2000 Libris Literature Award. Frank Ketelaar wrote the script.
The story of Public Works
1888: a luthier, Vedder (Gijs Scholten van Aschat), has to step aside when his home, opposite the recently completed Central Station in Amsterdam, must yield for the planned Victoria Hotel. His cousin Anijs (Jacob Derwig), pharmacist in the Northern provinces of the Netherlands, has gotten into a fix after illegal medical practices, and is looking for a way out. For himself and his wife Martha (Rifka Lodeizen), but also for a colony of poor peat cutters whom he promises a future in the United States. Committed – or is it pride? – the two of them think up a scheme from which they all will fully benefit. With tragic consequences.
The film is produced by Topkapi Films, in cooperation with September Film Distribution, VPRO and publisher Querido. Co-producers of the film are Menuet (Belgium), I’m FILM and Mythberg Films (Hungary). Public Works is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund, NPO, CoBO Fund and the Ministry of OC&W (Telescoop), the Matching Fund, the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, the Abraham Tuschinski Fund, the Flemish Audiovisual Fund, Favourite (Belgian tax shelter) and the Hungarian tax rebate. The film is developed with the support of the MEDIA programme of the European Union.
September Film Distribution will release the film in Dutch theatres.