Following the success of The Dark House, several other Noort novels were optioned for adaptations which included the Dinner Club. Filming took place in 2010 around Aerdenhout and Renkum.
The film was released in Dutch theaters in 25 November 2010. It received generally negative reviews from critics, but received a Golden Film for having at least 100.000 visitors at the box office.
Plot
Karen, a freelance translator, and Michel, an IT professional, are moving with their daughter Sophie to an affluent residential neighboorhood. While doing some shopping Karen encounters Simon, later, when she picks up her child from school she meets her neighbour Hanneke and the two become fast friends. Hanneke invites her to the dinner club she is part of. She meets the rest of the club, which includes Babette, Angela and Patricia. Angela offers her a lift afterwards. Next morning, Hanneke shows off interior designs she has made for Angela and Kees she has stored on her whale-shaped USB-stick. In the night, Karen and Michel go to a Patricia's and Simon's party, where Simon come on to Karen.
After bringing their kids to school, Karen and Hanneke visit Evert who is staying at a mental institution. Subsequently, Hanneke complains about her friends avoiding Evert and then gives Karen her very own USB-stick in the style of her own as a present. Evert is brought home by Simon and is given a welcome home party. Karen is hired by Kees to translate a brochure. At one of their dinner meetings, the women are intruded by their husbands, who are dressed up in stereotypically female clothing. Only for it to get out of hand between Simon and Evert, who ends up injured. While leaving the party Simon kisses Karen.
In the middle of the night, the home of Evert and Babette, is burned down and Evert is killed by apparent suicide. In the aftermath, Hanneke is inconsolable and doesn't buy it.
The film was released in Dutch theaters on November 25, 2010.[2] The film was suppose to be shown at an European film festival in Uganda, but was banned by the Uganda censorship board. The embassy of the Netherlands withdrew from appearing at the festival.[8]
On April 22 2011, The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Dutch FilmWorks.[9]
Reception
The film received generally negative reviews from critics,[10][11][12] After the premiere, Saskia Noort heavily criticized the film during RTL Boulevard for changing the ending and considered it inferior to the novel.[10]
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