The cartoon film "If you know what I mean" is a produce of Toonder Studios. The Netherlands and Flanders have always been quite versatile in the production of cartoon stories and characters. Toonder (what's in a name) was a class of his own, although his style of drawing reminds of Disney. During my final year in high school I even devoted my (not so brilliant) special paper on literature to his work. The stories itself are totally European in character. For Toonder's writings always take place in class societies, and his main characters belong to the upper class. His best creation is Olivier B. Bommel, a parvenu, who actually refers to himself as a gentleman of high rank ("een heer van stand"). The nerve! Rather ironically he is portrayed as a bear with a chequered coat and nothing below. Amazing, really. But Marten Toonder also created the less well-known picture strip about Koning Hollewijn (Hollow-vine), the simple monarch of a tiny state. In fact until deep in the fifties Europe still showed many remnants of the class society. The patriarchal relations saw to a cozy and safe community, and this atmosphere is omnipresent in Toonder's work (which always ends with a banquet at the mansion). When in the sixties the society abandoned its traditional class structure, the rebellious Toonder did not follow. This makes his picture strips a little mysterious, as if time has stopped. Toonder himself moved to Ireland, also not really a stirring place. Similar to Disney, he incorporated fairy-like elements into his work, with dragons, magicians, aliens, paranormal phenomena, and evil scientists (the illustrious professor Sikbok is absent in the film). Usually, Toonder made fun of some social movement or development. It is mainly satire and irony. The characters all stand like rocks, and few offer hope for a better future. In fact Bommel is a predecessor of Peter Griffin (Family guy) or Eric Cartman (South Park). Toonder could not be as blunt, but thanks to simple mirroring his criticism is just as merciless - if you are willing to ponder on the events. Amazing what you can express without spelling it out. Don't expect comic moments in the strips. Although Toonder's cartoon albums are certainly enjoyable for children, they aim at adults. This is also clear from the format. For Toonder placed his texts below the pictures, and did not use text balloons (who invented this nonsense anyway?). All in all the film gives a surprisingly accurate impression of Toonder's style. If you appreciate cartoon films, you definitely must see this one. Amazing.
Review of Als je begrijpt wat ik bedoel
