Take a disillusioned slacker high school senior, add a trashy wannabe chick, throw in a psychotic thrill killer bad boy, a dash of murder, a pinch of Turkish drug cartel, and you have a definite recipe for disaster. Stan is our slacker, and finds his life spiraling out of control when he gets mixed up with the sordid Dutch underworld in the indie international fav GODFORSAKEN.

Based on actual events in the Netherlands, the film opens during the Fat Tuesday parade. As the revelers celebrate in the streets, a mortician somberly attends to his duties. A voice-over begins his story as the film flashes back to young unambitious Stan, at loose ends hanging out in a small Dutch town where everybody knows your name. Local twentysomething punk Mike rushes into the store and asks the youth to "look after" a package he hands the boy. A startled Stan agrees as Mike eludes the pursing law enforcement. After the heat dies down, Stan finds Mike and returns the package - a large wad of cash. Impressed by Stan's conduct, Mike asks him for another 'small' favor. Mike is in love with Anna, but her parents forbid her contact with the ruffian. So Stan pretends to be her new beau, allowing her and Mike to have their liaisons. Of course, Stan becomes smitten with her, but deep inside, he feels he can't allow himself to be close to anyone; whatever you love, you lose.

Stan's home life leaves a lot to be desired; his mother is wrapped up with her own affairs and his stepfather is oblivious to the boy. Stan gets into trouble - busted with Mike and his pal Sef, he is released to his mother's care. He is more concerned with Mike than his own predicament, and the fact Mike's stuck in jail weighs heavy on him. His mother is no help; she sees things as she wants, not as they are. Stan recalls the only time he saw his real father. A trucker, he gave Stan his watch to remember him, because his mother refuses to even admit her son's true parentage. When Stan discovers his real father has been killed in an accident, he goes to the funeral. There, he meets the newly released Mike, who's there for his buddy. Soon, the pals are back to business as usual; minor rip-offs for moolah and Stan acting as Anna' date so she and Mike can screw. Sef has an idea for a major rip-off of a local drug dealer (who can't call in the cops if he's nicked, naturally). Mike loves the idea, but decides to pull off the heist without Sef. So late one night, Mike and Stan leave Anna in the car and enter the home of Johan the dealer. It should be a quick smash and grab, but things don't go quite as planned. Sef's tip was wrong; Johan's has no stash of money. Mike rampages and destroys the house; Stan is freaked and beats the dealer with a bat. Their identities exposed, Mike puts a bullet into Johan's head. They jet, making up excuses for Anna's sake. Mike tells Stan it was an accident; if Johan had cooperated, he wouldn't be dead. Now they are tied together like brothers; whatever happens to one will happen to the other. They have to trust each other to survive.

From here on Stan's life is on the downward spiral. Johan's death leads Mike and Stan deep into the Dutch underworld and into the clutches of drug czar Osman. There's murder, mayhem and misfortune around every corner as Stan, Mike and Anna fall into a void from which there is no escape...

GODFORSAKEN is one hell of a nihilistic film; there is no redemption for the characters. Everyone pays the price for his or her choices; every time they have a chance to do the right thing, they make the wrong decision. Stan is not a bad kid, but left in an emotional void by his family, he is quick to latch on to the only person who shows him some friendship, even if it's only for Mike's own personal agenda. Mike himself is all 'ID' - acting on pure emotion and bullying through the days without regard of the consequences. Poor Anna becomes stuck in the middle, wanting to have her cake and eat it too. There is a great depth to these characters that you won't find in many Hollywood films; even as they make the wrong decisions, you hold out hope they won't came to their destines ends. But GODFORSAKEN refuses to glamorize the 'crime lifestyle' (see "Natural Born Killers" or "Goodfellas"); everyone is held accountable for their actions. The film made me think of J.D. Salinger's novel "Catcher in the Rye". Stan is the modern version of Holden; a loner looking to find his way in the world, but caught up in a maelstrom beyond his control.

The acting by Tygo Gernandt and Egbert Jan Weeber in the lead roles is absolutely exceptional. The direction by first timer Pieter Kuijpers shows a style that is creative and professional; I never would have guessed this was a first effort by a director. The composition of shots and scenes are varied and interesting. Combined with a moving 'beat' to the dialogue and matched by the well-paced editing, GODFORSAKEN keeps you riveted to the seat absorbed in the story and anxious for what will happen next. An interesting touch is the sepia tone look of the film. While still in 'full color', the picture takes a muted look with a somber color pallet of browns and greens. The quality of the picture itself is very good. The audio is good, although the film is available only subtitled (which is clear); music is appropriate and adds a subtle undertow to the action. A great effort put forth by all the cast and crew.

Unfortunately, the DVD release of GODFORSAKEN contains no real extras. The film is presented wide screen, with 13 chapter stops, and there's a selection of trailers. That's it campers. No commentary. No behind-the-scenes. No nothing for the winner of the 2003 Netherlands Film Festival. Kind of disappointing for such an exceptional film.

Even so, GODFORSAKEN is a thrilling unrelenting, unflinching look at the life of a kid on the road to nowhere. Refusing to take the easy path, GODFORSAKEN paints a grim picture of life and the consequences of the choices made. Writing that has depth to the characters, great acting and creative direction add up to a film that could be a modern Shakespearian tragedy. Take off your rose- colored glasses and see the world as it really is, or you will truly be GODFORSAKEN.