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SERGIO HERMAN
FUCKING PERFECT
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Sergio Herman,
FUCKING PERFECT
by W.J.A. Kluijfhout
The Netherlands / 2015 / 80 minutes / DCP / Color / 1:1.77 / Dolby 5.1 / Dutch, English / Documentary
Film Specs:
Production Country: The Netherlands
Year: 2015
Language: Dutch, English
Genre: Documentary
Subtitle Language: English, Dutch, German
Format: DCP
Running Time: 80 minutes
Color/Bw: Color
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Frame Rate: 25 fps
Sound Ratio: 5.1
Originally Shot on: Film S16mm
Credits :
Director: Willemiek Kluijfhout
Director of Photography: Remko Schnorr
Sound Recording: Bram Boers
Film Editor: Saskia Kievits
Sound Design: Marc Lizier & Paul Gies
Music: Trentemøller
Producer: Reinette van de Stadt
Copy Right Notice:
© 2015 Trueworks / VPRO. All rights reserved.
Featuring:
Sergio Herman
Ellemieke Herman Vermolen
Michel Herman
Sarine Oosterbaan
Ronny Herman
Ans Herman
Nick Bril
Syrco Bakker
Tony le Duc
Jacco La Gasse
Merita Fakiera
Marjorie Romeijn
Sergio Herman
Sergio’s wife
Sergio’s brother
wife of Michel Herman
Sergio’s father
Sergio’s mother
chef at The Jane
chef at Pure C
Photographer & Cookbook Publisher Minestrone
Creative for Sergio Herman
office manager
personal assistant Sergio Herman
Logline/Tagline:
At the height of his culinary career, Master chef Sergio Herman feels he needs to let go of his 3-star
restaurant Oud Sluis in order to fulfill his dreams. A revealing documentary about perfection, ambition and
sacrifice.
Short Synopsis:
“You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.” Peter Pan, By James M. Barrie
For 25 years, 3- Michelin-star chef Sergio Herman strives for perfection. At the height of his culinary career,
Sergio decided that in order to further pursue his dreams; he must close his famous restaurant Oud Sluis.
This documentary is an honest and intimate portrait that shows the struggles of a man in transition. It
exposes how Sergio deals with the existential questions and doubts that many of us identify with in life.
Sergio Herman, FUCKING PERFECT is an intense story of perfectionism, ambition and sacrifice.
Long Synopsis:
Driven top-chef, Sergio Herman (43), strives for perfection every day. After he became the master chef of
his father’s restaurant, Oud Sluis in the Netherlands, it was awarded with 3 Michelin stars. It is considered
one of the best restaurants in the world. However, the beauty and success of his culinary art has a
downside: the long hours, the competition, the continuous pressure. He is hardly able to spend time with
his loving wife and four children. His father, with whom he apprenticed, now suffers from a rare form of
dementia. Sergio decides that if he wants to enjoy life, this is the time for a change. He takes the difficult
and radical decision to close the family restaurant. The documentary follows the celebrity chef during his
year of transformation. The audience goes behind-the-scenes into the kitchen of his three star restaurant
as it is about to close, revealing Sergio’s struggles in taking a new turn in life.
But being the perfectionist he is, Sergio finds it impossible to do things half-heartedly. After closing Oud
Sluis, he can’t help but start upgrading his second restaurant Pure C, with chef Syrco Bakker, in the south of
Holland. Additionally, he initiates a larger-than-life project in an old cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium.
Together with his right-hand man, Nick Bril, they build a restaurant of their dreams where design, food and
art all come together. Meanwhile, Sergio’s brother Michel converts Oud Sluis into an unpretentious bistro
and Sergio’s wife takes careful steps to start her own career.
This documentary brings forth the existential questions and doubts that many of us identify with in life. It is
an honest and intimate portrait that shows the struggles of a man in transition. What comes to mind is
what James M. Barrie wrote in Peter Pan: You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else
for it.
About the Director:
Willemiek Kluijfhout (1971) studied Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam and attended the Dutch
Film and Television Academy as a director. She has directed several highly acclaimed documentaries and
award winning fiction-shorts that have been shown on television and at several international film festivals,
such as BALL POSSESSION which won two nominations at the New York City Short Film Festival. MUSSELS
IN LOVE was Willemiek’s first feature length film, competed for the Canon Cinematography Award at the
Planete+ Doc festival in Warsaw, Poland (May 2013) and was the opening film of the Culinary Cinema at the
Berlin Film Festival in 2013.
Her latest feature length documentary SERGIO HERMAN, FUCKING PERFECT, will premiere at the Berlinale
2015, is about Master chef Sergio Herman who closes down his 3 Michelin star restaurant Oud Sluis. A
revealing story about perfection, ambition and sacrifices.
Director’s Selected Filmography:
2015 SERGIO HERMAN, FUCKING PERFECT (80 min.)
2012 MUSSELS IN LOVE (73 min.)
2008 BLACK AS INK (50 min.)
2007 BALL POSSESSION (short)
2005 THINGS TO COME (50 min.)
2003 SURVIVING THE WATER (10x20 min.)
1999 TIALDA, 15 YEARS OLD (25 min.)
Director’s Statement:
Thanks to my film L'Amour des Moules (MUSSELS IN LOVE) I was given the chance to take a look behind the
scenes of Oud Sluis. I was deeply impressed by the high level of performance, and began to see that
cooking on star level is like avant-garde art. The art element, along with the personal story of Sergio
Herman, inspired the idea for this documentary. This film is about a man in transition. Sergio is at the
height of his success. But he wants to stop at the top of his game. The existential questions Sergio faces and
the doubts he undergoes are feelings that every ambitious person would identify with.
Sergio is a strong personality full of contrasts. What drives him? Despite his purposeful stance he is
constantly in search for something different, something better. For those lofty ambitions something else
has got to give, and that is not without consequences. Sergio Herman slowly begins to realise that the price
of success is high, maybe too high.
Following Sergio for a year, the emotional close down of the family restaurant, the building of a new
dream, is like a hero’s journey. A classic story wherein a hero needs to gain insight. On a philosophical level,
it raises the question of whether we can escape ourselves. The urge towards creation and perfection makes
Sergio Herman the phenomenon that he is. His self-realization has brought him to great heights but is at
the same time destructive. Talent as a gift and a curse.
Photo© 2015 Remko Schnorr
Sergio Herman
Sergio Herman (1970) inherited the love of cooking from his father, who he remembers as a passionate
chef. After graduating from Ter Groene Poorte culinary school in Bruges, Sergio got his work experience at
a number of top Dutch restaurants. Soon afterwards he started working with his father in the popular
restaurant Oud Sluis in Sluis (Zeeland). There he gradually finds that he is working in a unique region. The
best products, directly from the land and waters of his native region offer him so many possibilities. They
become his source of inspiration. It's the flavor of these pure ingredients Sergio will bring to life and with
which he lays the foundation for what will evolve into an unprecedented wow cooking.
Zeeland, the Netherlands
When in 1990, Sergio takes over restaurant Oud Sluis over from his father, he immediately switches to a
higher culinary gear. To do even better justice to all those fresh Zeeland delicacies, such as oysters - one of
his favorite products - he searches worldwide for new seasonings and techniques, which he finds among
other things in the Japanese and Italian cuisine. Also his contacts with a number of Spanish chefs have
influenced his kitchen that becomes gradually more and more intensely layered.
Particular signature
Refreshing accents and delicate sours mark his feather-light preparations. Sergio Herman evolved into an
extraordinary stylist and purist who, like no other, can give depth and subtle nervousness to a dish. Despite
the exceptionally distinguished character of his kitchen, the atmosphere is always very casual. Sergio wants
his customers to relax and enjoy themselves. And to achieve this, Sergio believes a beautiful, stylized, and
yet informal environment as essential. Furthermore, for a couple of years, he has been providing
accommodation in a beautiful country house (Chico y Luna) on the outskirts of Sluis.
Global Recognition: 35th in world rankings
The recognition of such an extraordinary talent didn’t take long. Sergio Herman received his first Michelin
star in 1995 and four years later Oud Sluis received its second star. Finally in 2005 follows the absolute
pinnacle with a third star. In the Gault Millau guide Oud Sluis featured a few years with the exceptional
score of 20 out of 20. The restaurant was also listed for a number of years in The San Pellegrino World's 50
Best Restaurants. In 2013 Oud Sluis figured in that list of best restaurants worldwide at number 35. Despite
this success, in June 2013 he announced to close Oud Sluis in December 2013 after 25 years. The restaurant
was getting too small and there was no room to expand. It limited Sergio, who is in a constant reach for
innovation and perfection, to develop and evolve.
Photo© 2012 www.facebook.com/restopurec
Pure C Bar & Restaurant
In Spring 2010 Sergio Herman opened at a stone's throw from his restaurant, (more precisely at the beach
of Cadzand-Bad), a new spot. Pure C Bar & Restaurant is very accessible yet beautifully styled restaurant
where dining, and drinking in a warm emotional design and atmosphere bears his signature.
The Jane
The new restaurant run by chefs Sergio Herman and
Nick Bril, Herman’s former right-hand man at Oud
Sluis restaurant, is located in the chapel of a former
military hospital in the city of Antwerp. With their
detailed focus on art and design, the duo are
presenting a new dining experience.
Herman and Bril created The Jane in partnership with
a number of artists, designers and DJs. Dutch
architects Piet Boon designed the interiors and René
Nijboer produced it. The custom-designed clothing
for staff was the work of G-Star, the printed windows were designed by Studio Job. Other eye-catchers
include an illuminated neon skull by Kendell Geers from the Walter Vanhaerents Art Collection and an
800-kilo chandelier with 150 points of light by the Lebanese lighting design company .PSLAB. The in-house
food and cocktail bar, the Upper Room Bar, has a separate menu. It also serves cocktails and specialist
beers, in addition to wine.
Photo © 2014 Peter-Paul de Meijer
Ellemieke Vermolen (13 October 1976) worked as a Dutch supermodel, actress and presenter for
television. Her brother Jeremy Vermolen is a well known chef for television in the Netherlands. She married
top chef Sergio Herman in 2008. Together they have two sons: Noah (2009) & Zenna (2010).
Ellemieke Vermolen published several culinary books with family recipes and food shakes. She keeps a blog
on healthy food for the whole family: http://ellemiekevermolen.com
Filmmaker’s Biography:
Producer Reinette van de Stadt
Reinette van de Stadt (1974) graduated as a film producer in 2000 at
the Netherlands Film Academy. She is involved in international
filmproduction since 1995. She founded her production company
TRUEWORKS in 2003. Reinette is a graduate of the EAVE Producers
Workshop 2012, a member of the European Documentary Network
(EDN), a participant of the IDFA FILMFUND young producers class 2009
& 2012, of the SOURCES2 2009 and the Rotterdam Lab 2013. She
attended the ACE Coproduction Lab Hong Kong 2013 and the TIES THAT
BIND workshop in Italy and South-Korea. In 2014 she pitched at
Thessaloniki Docs and the MeetMarket at Sheffield. Producer Reinette
runs the company with positive energy, honesty and transparency
aiming at international audiences.
Director of Photography Remko Schnorr
D.O.P Remko Schnorr graduated from the Netherlands Film Academy in 2000. He is known for his
collaborations with Sophie Fiennes (The Pervert's Guide to Ideology and The Pervert’s Guide into Cinema
with Slavoj Zizeck, Over your cities grass will grow with Anselm Kiefer). He also shot feature length
documentary L’Amour de Moules (Willemiek Kluijfhout, 2012) and feature film Rider Jack (planned release
2015). He collaborated with photographer Erwin Olaf on several short films. Remko also did the
camerawork for several videoclips and commercials for Vlisco Design and Fashion, Grolsch and Ikea
amongst others.
Editor Saskia Kievits
In 2009 Saskia Kievits graduated in Film Editing from the Netherlands Film and Television Academy. Her
graduation film ‘Time Within Time’ (director Menno Otten) won the VPRO Documentary Award and was
nominated for the 2009 IDFA Student Award. Her other graduation film ‘Stay, Away’ (director Paloma
Aguilera Valdebenito) was nominated for an European Film Award.
Since 2006 she has been working as a freelance editor on diverse projects. Saskia assisted on several
feature films including ‘De Storm’ ‘Foeksia, de miniheks’ and ‘Het Geheim’. In 2011, she edited the short
fiction film ‘Random Strangers’ (Director Alexis Dos Santos) which was selected for the Sundance Film
Festival 2012 and the television film ‘Entre Nosotros’ (director Paloma Aguilera Valdebenito) won the Fipa
D’Argent 2012. She edited several documentaries including ‘Jerome, Jerome’ (directed by Petra CizschLataster and Peter Lataster) which was nominated for the Best Dutch Documentary at IDFA 2011 and for a
Golden Kalf at the Netherlands Film Festival 2012. Saskia also cut various commercials and music videos
including Triodos Bank, Artis, Armin v. Buuren, Marco Borsato and Wouter Hamel.
Production Company:
TRUEWORKS (2003) is an Amsterdam based film production company that aims at international
co-producing for feature length documentaries for cinema and other worldwide platforms. The company is
owned by producer Reinette van de Stadt. Latest short film MISSING was selected for Competition at the
Cannes Film Festival. The documentary EGGS FOR LATER won the Audience award at DokumentArt.
MUSSELS IN LOVE was the opening of the Culinary Cinema at the Berlinale 2013, won the best Cinema
Poster price 2012 and was sold worldwide by Sales Agent Autlook. Released at the Netherlands Film
Festival 2014 are the short documentaries BADEMEISTERS and FACE TO FACE (by award winning director
Menno Otten). The new feature length documentary SERGIO HERMAN, FUCKING PERFECT by Willemiek
Kluijfhout will be released at the Berlinale 2015, represented by Fortissimo Films.
Production Company Contacts:
Trueworks
Address: Zeeburgerpad 51bg, 1019 AB, Amsterdam
Contact: Reinette van de Stadt
Tel: +31 6 248 70 468
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.true-works.nl
www.fortissimofilms.com
HEAD OFFICE
Van Diemenstraat 100
1013 CN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 627 3215
Fax: +31 20 626 1155
E-mail: [email protected]
ASIA OFFICE
Unit A, 26/F., CKK Commercial Centre
289-295 Hennessy Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong, S.A.R.
Phone: (852) 2311 8081
Fax: (852) 2311 8023
E-mail: [email protected]