The Tears of Bea Smit

Structured as a Rorschach, Bea starts and ends the film in the same place: alone at heart, having lost something she loved.Driving past the Amstel river, Bea’s lover tells he is tired of her mistrust and that their relationship is over. Bea’s blame of her absent alcoholic mother won’t help her this time. The car stops in front of her pub, the home she never had. An Amsterdam brown cafe with carpets on the tables. Bea won’t leave it for the coming 70 minutes. Different days & customers melt into the same scene, as Bea’s hands keep on working day in, day out. Though not much happens, there is always a worry on Bea’s mind. The threat of a landlord wanting to take over her pub adds to the fear of abandonment Bea experienced 50 years ago with her mother.The 9 year old who plays piano at the pub never met her father, just like Bea. She shares with her the worry of loosing her cats. Thats why she keeps them on a leash. If you don’t want to lose your dear ones, you better tie them down!